A PARKING lifeline has been thrown to residents who struggle to find a space at night.

There are 6,000 parking permit holders in central Swindon and Old Town but nowhere near that number of spaces outside homes.

So from Monday Swindon Council will let permit holders leave vehicles in certain car parks for free between 10pm and 8am.

"This is a good idea that will make a difference," said councillor Peter Greenhalgh, Swindon Council cabinet member for highways, transport and strategic planning.

"It isn't perfect but we really have to do what we can to help residents and allow the commercial activities in the town at night to continue.

"Since taking this job parking has been top of the agenda and I understand the frustrations that people living in these areas have.

"This is a genuine attempt to try and help everyone who struggles with parking.

"We don't believe any other council does this."

In October last year the Residents' Advisory Parking Group, which has pushed the parking scheme forward, surveyed residents in the centre of town on what would help ease their parking headaches.

And one of the ideas to come out of the group's public consultation was free overnight parking in council car parks.

Now it is on the verge of being introduced Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Old Town & Lawn), deputy leader of Swindon Council, said she thought the scheme would work.

"The houses in our part of town were built 100 years ago and we all know they just don't have the parking spaces residents need," she said.

"But we can't just magic up spaces.

"So this will help immensely.

"Hopefully people will see that we as a council are listening to what they are saying and that there is a good take up of this scheme.

"Some people may say 10pm is a bit late as a starting time.

"But in doing this we need to look at Swindon's night time economy.

"Old Town is a vibrant place. We had to make sure that continues and make sure that those wanting to use the car parks in Old Town can do so."

Coun Greenhalgh added: "The next thing we're looking at is removing some of the yellow lines - but that takes time and we knew that making the most of empty car parks now would help."

Overnight stays

UNDER the new rules people living in each area with parking permits can only park for free in the car parks allocated to their zone.They are:

Town Centre: Granville Street, King Street, Queens Street, Catherine Street, Commercial Road

Zone A: Granville Street, Commercial Road, The College

Zone B: Harding Street, Cheltenham Street

Zone C: Granville Street, Commercial Road

Zone D: The College, Granville Street, Bath Road, Prospect Place

Zone E: The College, Prospect Place, Bath Road

Zone F: Commercial Road, Granville Street,

Zone G: The College, Princes Street, Prospect Place, Clarence House, Britannia Place

Zone H: The College, Princes Street, Clarence House

Zone J: County Ground, Queenstown

Zone K: Commercial Road, Granville Street

Zone L: Prospect Place, Britannia Place

Zone N: Prospect Place, Britannia Place