Angus councillors have agreed to seek out residents views on the future of parking charges.
People will be asked to have their say and help shape the future of the controversial policy in a public consultation launching in November.
Many residents blamed the charges for damaging high street businesses across the county, sparking a grass roots protest movement against them.
While administration leaders had maintained the income stream was essential to pay for public services.
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in, what will be by March 2021, a near year-long suspension in off-street parking charges.
A “Member Officer Working Group” including officials and councillors is conducting a “comprehensive review” of the policy.
This will include “a meaningful conversation with communities about free and paid for parking”, an Angus Council spokeswoman has confirmed.
Communities convener Mark Salmond, said: “A short time before the coronavirus outbreak, I reported on the significant income stream that our off-street parking charges had provided. But this virus has proved to be a game changer in so many ways.
“We bagged all of our off-street parking meters when lockdown was imposed. Realising then that the way ahead would be unpredictable, we made assurances that we would assess the impact that the virus would have on our communities and importantly our local retailers.
“We are still in a position today where none of us can accurately state what the economic effects of Covid-19 will be, or how long the virus will influence our everyday lives.
“That is why Angus Council must continue to support our communities through this crisis by all means deemed necessary and achievable. One of the ways that we can begin do this is to review our parking provision and restrictions.
“We are being given a chance to push the reset button on parking in Angus and fully establish how it can best serve our communities in the future.
“All options will be considered in looking at on and off-street parking, free and paid for parking, parking restrictions, including waiting times, and parking permits.
“This is not simply a matter of free parking versus paying to park,” he added.
The consultation will take the form of focus groups and a public consultation, canvassing views from residents, retailers, businesses and visitors.
