Parking charges in Swindon could be drastically reduced by Swindon Council’s Cabinet tonight.

If given the green light, some town centre charges could be slashed by more than 50 per cent reducing the cost of four hours parking from from £4.80 to £2.

Parking for up to an hour could also be cut by 20p leaving it at £1.

The Town Centre will not be the only area to see reductions under the proposed scheme; the wards affected include Central, Lawn, Eastcott and Old Town.

In Old Town car parks Bath Road, Britannia Place, Dammas Lane, Prospect Place and The Planks, it would cost 70p for up to an hour and £1 to stay up to two.

If approved the new charges will last until July 2011.

The proposal comes after a dramatic slump in footfall which council figures show was down nearly a fifth between January and February.

The plans have received the full support of Swindon South MP Justin Tomlinson, who said the changes would give a much needed boost to the town’s economy.

Cabinet members will meet at the Civic Offices at 6.30pm tonight to discuss the proposals.

A 850-space car park in Union Square will also be considered as part of the phase one of the £350m development in the area.