The cost of parking for 24 hours in a newly-opened car park is to drop by more than half – although you can't park there for that long yet.

Swale council, which owns and operates the multi-storey in St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne, has reduced the price for leaving your car for more than six hours from £15 to £7.

The car park is open only between 8am and 7pm but it will be available around the clock when the nearby Travelodge hotel opens.

Travelodge had expected to be checking in guests by now but a spokesman said earlier this month it did not plan to open until the new year.

Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Tim Valentine (Green) said: "We’re pleased to offer more long-stay car parking spaces at the Bourne Place multi-storey car park for locals and visitors in Sittingbourne.

"The more than 50% reduction will open up 308 spaces at the new car park.

"We know that more long-stay parking is needed near the station and around the town centre, so we decided to amend the long-stay charge to provide the space that users need.

'We know that more long-stay parking is needed near the station and around the town centre' - Cllr Tim Valentine (Green)

"The multi-storey car park offers secure and well-lit parking between 8am and 7pm every day, giving users peace of mind during the darker winter mornings and evenings.

"It also benefits from CCTV cameras throughout the building for extra reassurance.

"The car park will be open 24-hours a day when the Travelodge hotel opens which will make it even easier for commuters to park."

When asked why the council was waiting for the hotel to open before offering 24-hour parking at the multi-storey, a spokesman said: “Unlimited car park access is a requirement of the lease for the new Travelodge, which is due to open in the next few months.

“Bourne Place multi-storey car park was originally built to service the leisure development and the opening times and tariffs reflect this.”

The car park will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne