LEAP Day is set to be Go To Town! Day after Cornwall Council agreed to provide free parking in its car parks to tie in with the new West Briton campaign.

Launched last week, Go To Town! is aiming to encourage more people to visit their local town centre and support shops and businesses there to ensure our towns continue to thrive.

This week we can reveal that on February 29 readers of the West Briton will be able to park for free in Cornwall Council car parks.

A voucher will be printed in the February 23 issue of the West Briton which can be displayed in your car to give you free parking.

Councillor Jim Currie, deputy leader of Cornwall Council, said: "Cornwall Council is pleased to be supporting the Leap Day campaign. We are the only local authority in the country that has committed to supporting town centres by having a dedicated town centre management team which provides specialist overarching support.

"We are already doing many of the actions recommended in the Portas Report, including setting up town teams, supporting business improvement districts (BID), helping to manage vacant premises and delivering business support and advice. At present our town centre management team are actively involved in 12 town centres providing direct support on the ground."

The free Leap Day parking initiative has been welcomed in Camborne and Redruth.

Dan Spry, who runs Morgan's Meats in Redruth, said: "I think it's a brilliant idea. We employ three members of staff. My message to them is to offer customer satisfaction, get sales and ensure their own job security.

"We will support the Go To Town! campaign in any way we can."

On February 29, Morgan Meats will offer a free pack of its award-winning sausages to anyone who spends more than £10 in one transaction.

John Hayward, of Team Track Trading, said: "A day of free parking is a small step in the right direction towards what Redruth so badly needs.

"I hope that the free parking will encourage people to come to Redruth and see what the town has to offer.

"I had a chap come over from Truro, who hadn't been to Redruth for a while and he was pleasantly surprised."

Team Track Trading will be offering 20 per cent off all N-Gauge rolling stock on the day.

Ian Gilbert, owner of Go Mobile in Trelowarren Street, Camborne, has given 100 per cent backing to the campaign and the free parking day on February 29. Mr Gilbert, who also has a mobile phone shop in Helston, said: "Camborne is quieter than it was. Bringing more people into town centres is imperative. Towns need free parking to encourage people away from out of town stores."

Councillor Chris Ridgers, Cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Cornwall Council, added: "It is to be hoped that regular visitors to towns, who normally only visit for an hour or so, and also those who may not have visited a particular town for some time will take the opportunity to explore what the town has offer."