DEVIZES Town Council is to refuse to answer a questionnaire on car parking and instead has formed its own working party to put together a much more detailed response.

On Tuesday evening town councillors claimed Wiltshire's consultation was a like asking people if they wanted to be hung or shot and the questions were heavily weighted to get the answers it wanted.

Members were particularly concerned about a proposal to introduce paid parking in the Market Place. One option in the consultation is for one hour to cost 70p and two hours £1.30.

Cllr Ian Hopkins said: "I propose we don't look at the options in the report as they are skewed to get us to agreed. We need to send our own comments."

Cllr Judy Rose said: "The Market Place is not a car park. The idea of paying is ludicrous.The free half hour parking is now working well and keeps a constant flow of vehicles. "

A number of councillors criticised the enforcement of parking rules in Devizes and said this led to people who work in the town playing the system.

Another option is to end town council's ability to give discretionary free parking in November and December. A report to Devizes Town Council warns: "This policy would effectively result in the end of the Devizes Christmas light switch on as the cost of hiring the Market Place would be probative."

Members decided unanimously to create a working party which will report back to the next planning committee before a report is sent to Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council says it needs to increase parking charges as a result of a reduction in funding from central Government and an increasing demand for front line services. It says part of the money raised would be used to help fund rural bus services.

Option one of its plans to raise more cash is to introduce an inflationary increase to all of its car parks.