CHIPPENHAM BID, the pro-business group aiming to boost life for everyone in the town, has joined the fight against the plans to more than double season ticket parking prices.

BID manager Kathryn Crosweller says if the rises go ahead, businesses could be forced to move out of the town centre, a view she has now passed to Wiltshire Council.

“The whole thing just makes me cross,” she said.

“Chippenham BID has been made aware of serious concerns held by its members, which support the prediction that the planned increases will have an adverse impact.

“In some cases, the charging increase is so significant that it will drive businesses away from Chippenham.

“Freeing up car parking spaces for shoppers and visitors to the town centre will only work if the town centre contains a varied and robust offering to those who visit.

“If local workers are priced out of working in Chippenham town centre, the added footfall from large employers is lost.”

Julian Duffill, managing partner at Market Place accountancy firm Mander Duffill, said: “We are very much against this proposal.

“We have over 60 members of staff, the majority of whom hold permits to park in Chippenham which are purchased by us.

“We will not be able to continue this if the proposed prices rise.

“In the last eight years our business has spent around £150,000 on parking in Chippenham which I am sure the council will agree is a significant amount.

“Without permits, our employees would have no alternative but to park on the surrounding streets.

“This would cause issues for the residents of those streets.

“We are also concerned that we may lose staff or struggle to attract new staff in this area which is going to influence our business.”

The rises seem certain to hit workers’ pockets. In Stanbourn Avenue car park, a one-month season ticket will increase by 145 per cent, from £27.50 to £67.50.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: “We consulted extensively on the proposed changes in 2017, and published the results.

“With regard to off-street parking and season tickets, the preference was to allow funding to support the maintenance of parking facilities and other vital services such as local buses. We recognise the vital role that parking plays in supporting the community and businesses and we carefully consider any amendments before they are introduced.

“Our proposals in the publicised Traffic Regulations followed a public consultation and the outcome of that was that consultees support a number of parking arrangements changes.

“Season tickets are often limited and this does not permit everyone the opportunity of this discounted parking scheme. The proposal is for the season ticket charge to have a 50% reduction from the normal day rate parking charge. While we note the increase, this is still a substantial saving to those able to use the scheme.”

“The Traffic Regulation process does not allow the proposed rates to be altered, only accepted or rejected. The consultation findings last year will not prohibit the rejection of the current proposed charges, but it must be noted this will affect the funding identified for services.

“The comments regarding the proposed charges have been captured and will be considered before any decision is made on the acceptance or rejection of the proposals.”