New Reading town centre pay and display charges start

Shoppers in Reading have been warned as new pay and display machines are brought into operation.

About 200 parking spaces in the town centre have been converted into short-term pay and display areas in a bid to generate more money.

The charge is 50p for 20 minutes, with a maximum of £3 for a two-hour stay.

Reading council said the scheme could be rolled out to Caversham and other shopping areas in the town centre if the two-year trial was a success.

The authority said the charges were comparable to prices in existing town centre car parks.

Councillor Richard Willis, member for planning and transport, said the charges would bring in money to help offset a deficit in the borough's residents' parking scheme.