PARKING chiefs have extended the period in which the public can have their say over controversial changes to district car parking charges.

Originally officers at Cotswold District Council agreed the public consultation period on plans to introduce round-the-clock parking charges across the Cotswolds should be just three weeks.

However, after the Standard contacted CDC to say residents had hit out at the short time, they agreed to extend the period by two months. The deadline for comments will now be September 22.

Last month CDC’s cabinet proposed to extend weekday charges to Sundays, with a flat rate £1.50 fee for overnight parking between 6pm and 8am, in car parks across the district.

The move which will earn CDC an extra £50,000 a year.

Cllr Mark Wardle had criticised the short amount of time as well as the timing of the consultation saying many residents would have been on holiday.

Cllr David Fowles, cabinet environment member, said he had understood it was to be a three-month consultation.

"I am very grateful to the Standard because as soon as it told me that wasn’t the case, I contacted our deputy leader and had it extended," he said.

"We now have a 24/7 economy in the Cotswolds and our car parking policy must reflect that. We appreciate it is a major issue for the district and people have strong views.

"We are taking people’s comments seriously, that is why we extended the consultation period as soon as we realised it was not adequate."