Visitors to County Hall in Trowbridge will soon be able to park much more easily thanks to a new electronic permit system.

People will be able to park in the visitor bays for up to two hours, and will need to register their vehicle in reception using the designated screens.

The parking for both visitors and staff will be free, but the new regulations are designed to ensure it is simpler for visitors to use the facilities and meet people at the council offices.

John Thomson, cabinet member for highways, said: “County Hall is a community space and we want to encourage more people to drop in, however we know that a barrier to this is the lack of available visitor parking spaces.

"The situation for visitors and staff has been difficult since more services and staff have been based at County Hall, which has allowed us to make large property savings.

"This new system will improve things greatly.”

Free parking will still be available to all visitors and staff, but it will now be monitored.

Visitors and staff will need permits, and anyone who doesn’t have one could receive a penalty charge notice.

The electronic parking permit system will be enforced from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and it means only staff and visitors to County Hall will be able to park there. It will come into force from Monday, April 6.