PUBLIC pressure has forced a dramatic U-turn on plans to overhaul the residents' parking scheme in Maidstone.

Controversial plans to introduce night-time charges for residents and visitor parking vouchers are among the ideas that will be scrapped after Maidstone Borough Council was flooded with petitions and letters.

A plan to discriminate against homes with off-street parking - a drive or garage - will also be dropped when the new parking charges system is announced on July 24.

Cllr Malcolm Robertson (Lib Dem), cabinet member for transport, admitted some of the ideas in the initial plan were "not suitable for Maidstone" at a meeting on Wednesday.

He added the new plan would place more emphasis on creating more parking space by reducing the number of double yellow lines.

He said: "These weren't hare-brained schemes that were put forward, they were all working in other boroughs across the country. But they were not suitable for Maidstone.

"I came to the conclusion that we need to improve the present system, rather than make radical changes."

Discussions with ward councillors in the affected areas and a second round of public consultations will take place before a final scheme is put in place.

But Cllr Robertson outlined his latest vision of the scheme at the meeting:

• Every resident including those with an off-street parking space will get a free parking permit, with a free visitors' permit offered to people who do not own a car.

• A second permit will cost £25 and plans to offer a third permit have been scrapped. Permits will be needed for daytime parking only.

• Pay-to-park scratchcards or vouchers for visitors will no longer be introduced. Residents will be able to buy an annual visitors' pass for £25.

• Pay and display spaces will remain the same. The council will continue with its plan to charge £1 for overnight off-street car parks.