PEOPLE power has won the day after Malvern Hills District Council backed down from plans to stop drivers using parking permits in short-stay car parks.

The council last month announced it wanted to prevent drivers using their two-hour permits in this way. At the same time it said the cost of the permits would be dropped from £15 to £10 a year.

Car parks affected would have included Belle Vue Terrace, Edith Walk and Grange Road. But a public outcry, both from residents and traders, has led to a sharp U-turn.

Coun Philip Grove, spokesman for economic development, said: "We put forward the suggestion and we had a lot of feedback; so in the light of what we heard, we've decided not to pursue the idea."

He said the council will continue to look at parking, both on-street and in the car parks.

Robin Elt, businessman and chairman of Great Malvern Association of Trade, said he was delighted with the council's decision.

"We welcome any positive move," he said. "At the moment, Malvern has less than half the number of parking spaces per head of population than Bromsgrove, Pershore or Droitwich.

"I believe the council should go ahead with plans to develop new parking at the back of Belle Vue Terrace, which were well advanced a few years ago but which never went ahead. That could create 100-150 new spaces."

Malvern town councillor Adrian Ward was delighted the district council had changed its mind but called on it to go one step further.

He has brought forward a motion for night-time parking to be made free for both visitors and residents. Backed by six other councillors, his call will be discussed at a town council meeting on Thursday, February 21.

Coun Ward said: "There are still issues that people want to raise. For example, why do people have to pay to park in the evenings, when in many other towns it is free?"

The meeting is at 7pm at the council's office on Belle Vue Terrace.