SHOPPERS will soon be able to park for free in Malton town centre, thanks to an agreement reached this week between the landowners, Fitzwilliam Estate, and the district council.

Motorists currently have to pay £1 to leave their vehicle in the 96-space short-stay car park in Malton Market Place for one hour, or £1.80 for two hours. But from May 15, people will be able to park their vehicles there for a maximum of two hours without having to pay a penny.

Ryedale District Council currently rents the car park from the Fitzwilliam Estate, but the Estate has paid the council more than £40,000 to surrender the lease.

The Estate says that maintenance of the car park and lost rental income will cost them around £100,000 a year.

The announcement comes after years of campaigning on car parking charges by the Car Park Action Group, backed by the Gazette & Herald, and local business people.

Denys Townsend, chairman of Malton and Norton Business in Action, said: “This is a very positive step forward for the town, and we look forward to the estate taking over the car park.”

Tim Sinclair, who runs the Ambiente Tapas Restaurant in Malton, said: “This is excellent news. We frequently get people in who have already paid to park and who have been in to some other shops, and by the time they come to us, they don’t have much time left to have a meal.”

He said he was sure that other restaurateurs in the town must experience similar problems, adding: “There is so much doom and gloom at the moment, and so many empty shops, but this will help the traders of Malton to have a positive outlook.”

Sophie Legard, who runs Malton Relish, said she was delighted by the news.

She said: “I couldn’t be more positive about this – it is just what we traders need. It will put us on a similar footing to Monk’s Cross in York.”

Roddy Bushell, estate manager for the Fitzwilliam Estate, said that the decision came after some market research showed that free parking came out top of what people said would attract them to visit Malton.

He said: “The Estate is delighted to be able to bring free parking to Malton town centre as it is something we have wanted to do for a long time. The hope is that people will feel it is easier to pop into Malton.”

Coun Paul Andrews, who has campaigned for free parking in Malton, said: “This is a victory after what has been a long campaign. I have been urging the Fitzwilliam Estate to take back the lease for a long time.

“It will be a terrific bonus for local shops and will breathe new life into the town centre.

“The Estate is spending an enormous amount on this, which shows that it has faith in the long term profitability of Malton.”

When it takes on the car park, the Estate will also become responsible for the Saturday street market in Malton.