THE number of cars using a Salisbury car park has doubled over the past few months after a scheme was set up to make it free after 3pm.

New figures show an extra 800 cars are using Culver Street Car Park each week – 800 more than before.

Wiltshire Council, which started the initiative alongside the Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID) six months ago, said the increase had not been at the expense of other city car parks.

Steve Godwin of BID said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. From a BID perspective it’s everything we hoped for – businesses are seeing the increase in their numbers and have noticed a positive effect to their sales.

“It was initially for a six-month experimental period but we have confirmed that the scheme will continue for the foreseeable future.

“BID has heavily promoted the initiative and as well as local people, the scheme has drawn visitors to the city from west Hampshire, Dorset and other parts of Wiltshire.”

He added: “Salisbury is enjoying a higher volume of people and has been noticeably busier than previous years.”

As part of the scheme the car park, which has 528 spaces, is also free all day on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Wiltshire Council is currently midway through a car parking consultation which asks people to comment on a number of proposals, ranging from whether the council should transfer control of some car parks to parish or town councils and whether parking charges should be delegated to local area boards to agree in negotiation with Wiltshire Council.

It also asks for views on whether little used car parks should be sold.

Wiltshire Council deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for sustainable transport John Thomson said: “I am delighted to see the figures for Culver Street car park and to see how these joint initiatives are bringing results to the people of Salisbury. By working together with businesses we can provide more parking in an improved environment.

“We would urge people to take part in our consultation to have their say on the future of car parking in Salisbury. No decisions have been made and none will be until the results of the consultation are in and analysed. This is why it is vitally important that we get as much feedback as possible from people, local business and organisations.”

The proposals will be debated at a special meeting of Salisbury Area Board on Wednesday.

The consultation is open until January 19. To participate complete the survey at wiltshire.gov.uk/car-parking-salisbury.htm.