PARKING charges will resume in the Cotswolds next week and ticket machines will come back into use.

Cotswold District Council charges will begin again on Monday (June 1), although NHS and care workers will still have free use of the council-run car parks until August 31.

Parking charges in local car parks have been suspended since March 24 when Covid-19 safety restrictions put ticket patrols on hold.

With the country now slowly beginning to move out of lockdown, and small changes in public behaviour as people begin to travel further from home, the council has responded by reintroducing charges, alongside new safety measures.

The first is a safety poster, issued by the British Parking Association, which lets drivers know that cashless parking is available and that the machines are cleaned regularly.

It reminds users to keep two metres apart and advises them to use hand sanitiser or wash their hands soon after using a ticket machine. However, the council is advising drivers to pay by phone where possible.

Even though the risk is small for any driver who has a parking fine placed on their car windscreen, all Civil Enforcement Officers will wear disposable gloves and masks whilst on duty.

All parking charges remain the same as before the lockdown.

A full list of car parks and parking charges can be viewed at cotswold.gov.uk/parking-travel-and-visitors/where-to-park/

From Monday, NHS staff and care workers are invited to apply for a free parking permit online at mipermit.com/kwpermits.aspx

Cllr Mike Evemy, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance said: “We recognise the change in public behaviour over the last few days as the national restrictions begin to ease and our residents start to venture a little further from their homes.

"So, as a council, we’re beginning to prepare for the end of lockdown and we’re getting ready to see more people out and about. With more people expected to be using our car parks over the summer our regular patrols will return.

“We’ll be introducing some new safety measures, but where possible please do pay by phone. If you intend to pay with cash or by card, please remember to bring your hand sanitiser with you or wash your hands before touching your face.

“Since we turned off the ticket machines in March we’ve missed out on nearly £500,000 in budgeted revenue. This is money that we would have invested into our public services, so now we need to restart charging to stop that revenue gap getting even bigger.

“For NHS staff and care workers we’re introducing a new free parking permit. We understand that in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential for them to carry out their vital work without worrying about paying for car parking. We don’t want to see them struggling to find and pay for parking near work or at a vulnerable person or patient's home. We hope this special offer will make their lives a little easier at this time.”

The following car parks continue to remain free after 3pm every day until further notice:

Rissington Road in Bourton on the Water; Maugersbury Road in Stow on the Wold; and Old Market Way, Moreton in Marsh.