Cabinet members at Newark & Sherwood District Council gave the green light to charging at the King Street and Church Street car parks from Monday to Saturday until 6pm — with parking free for two hours, £1.50 for three hours and £1 an hour after that.

Ticket machines will now be installed at the car parks and charging is expected to be brought in on 19th May, with everyone needing to display a ticket even if they only stay for two hours.

Coun David Payne, cabinet member for housing and amenities, told Chad it cost the council £30,000 a year to maintain Southwell's car parks, but the Memorial Park car park will remain free all day.

He said: "We have taken into account the needs of shoppers, visitors and traders. We have also considered the need for long-term parking even though it is not the role of the district council to provide car parking for the benefit of workers at no cost.

"Local issues require local solutions and by giving two hours for free we are protecting Southwell's economy."

Under the order made by the authority, there will also be a two-hour limit for free parking brought in at the Mansfield Road car park in Edwinstowe, but the other car parks in the village will remain unrestricted.