scheme is being hailed as a success.

"The introduction of the voucher parking in the city centre had proved to be very effective in encouraging short-term parking for shoppers and discouraging long-term parking by those who shuffle their cars around every hour,'' Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt told The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Sherratt also said the "two hour maximum, one visit per day'' parking areas at Number One Shed, Number Five car park -- opposite the Bank of Butterfield on Front Street -- and at City Hall have proven popular.

"It's now possible to come into the city to shop or conduct business and to find a choice of parking spaces either on the street in the voucher parking zone or in one of the city centre car parks,'' he added.

Mr. Sherratt noted more special parking bays for the handicapped had also been added. But he admitted that there were still problems with motorists who made occasional "mistakes'' or those who deliberately try "to cheat the system''.

And he offered the following advice to motorists: Mark the voucher clearly, either by scratching the squares or by marking them heavily with a pen or pencil. Traffic wardens occasionally find motorists who try to mark their vouchers very lightly so they can be used again. Wardens can issue a ticket if the voucher is not clearly marked; Double check that the voucher is clearly displayed and is still on the dashboard after the door is closed. Drivers can ensure that the vouchers remain in place by using either a "voucher pouch'' which is on sale at local stores or by using the type of the suction device used to pin messages on refrigerators; Make sure the voucher is clearly displayed or risk a $50 ticket; and Use vouchers in voucher parking areas between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Mr. Sherratt said the Corporation of Hamilton was also pleased with the public's response to Bull's Head car park.

"We have had literally no problems with the multi-storey car park since it opened,'' he said.

Mr. Sherratt also said critics who thought the parking lot would be unpopular because of its location had been proved wrong.

"When it first opened, the ground level would fill every day, with just a few cars using the middle level,'' he said. "The middle level is now usually full before 9 a.m. with some cars parking on the top floor.''