A Paisley town centre parking initiative has been extended for another seven months in a move to drive footfall to local businesses.
The Free for Three pilot, which allows drivers to park in specific areas for three hours at no charge, was due to end this month.
However, Renfrewshire Council has confirmed the scheme will now remain in place until the end of March.
A report to the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board said the decision was made to "assist businesses, retail and communities transition" following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Colette Cardosi, chair of Paisley First, the business improvement district behind the concept, said: "With rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis affecting both businesses and consumers, we must do all we can to encourage people to visit the town centre and our local businesses.
"Whilst we welcome this extension to the Free for Three parking pilot programme, we hope that next spring the council will extend this to all town centre car parks and look at time-limited free parking for on-street parking spaces too, to help put our town centre businesses on a level playing field with their counterparts in Renfrew and Johnstone."
The car parks involved in the programme include Orchard Street, Weighhouse Close, Hunter Street upper and lower, Oakshaw and School Wynd, as well as short and long stay facilities at the Lagoon Leisure Centre.
Councillor Will Mylet, an SNP rep for Paisley East and Central, said: "If it's been helping local people and businesses then it's definitely a good thing that it's going to remain in place until March.
"If drivers are using some of the car parks in the outer areas, it frees up more space within the town centre itself for those who are just popping in to pick something up."
Many businesses, who had to adapt to survive in the face of Covid, are now dealing with rising inflation and soaring energy costs.
Councillor Mylet said a continuation of Free for Three was another way in which the council has tried to help people in a challenging economic climate.
He added: "The cost-of-living crisis is definitely difficult for people and businesses, so anything that we can do as a council is definitely a step in the right direction.
"Obviously we will always want to do more but we don't have all of the powers required."
Councillor Ben Smith said he hoped additional policy measures could be considered to increase footfall in the town centre via public transport, as well as by car.
The Labour rep for Paisley Northwest said: "I welcome any measure that increases footfall in and around the town centre.
"The council should be doing all it can to support local businesses during these difficult times.
"However, I am concerned that the policy does not benefit a substantial number of people who use public transport to get to the town centre.
"Other councils have enacted initiatives to increase footfall via public transport into town centres.
"I hope this is something that the administration will consider."
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