BUSINESSES in Warminster say their futures are under threat after the district council refused to review car-parking charges in the town until the end of September.

Since April 1, the cost of parking has doubled from 40p to 80p per hour and traders insist the increase is killing trade.

Members of Warminster Independent Trade Association (WITA) voiced their concerns over the price hike at an extraordinary meeting of the town council on Monday.

WITA chairman Dr Mike Turner said: "I find it so disappointing that the district council has agreed to debate parking charges in Trowbridge at next month's meeting and we have been overlooked yet again.

"We took a petition of more than 4,000 signatures to the last district council meeting to support our claim that business in Warminster is in decline.

"This petition was personally delivered by our mayor Les Rose and we see the refusal to review the situation as a snub to our mayor and a snub to the people of this town."

Cllr Christopher March said he was equally disappointed that Warminster had been overlooked in favour of the county town.

He said: "We had real reason to believe that parking charges in Warminster would be included on the July 20 agenda.

"Now we have learned the matter will not be discussed until the end of September this is simply not good enough".

"Every day we hear businesses in our town are suffering financially. I would urge all traders to write to us with any evidence of a downturn in profit so we can put this to the district council in writing."

But Cllr John Syme, who holds the communications portfolio for the district council, said Warminster was not the only town to be affected by the increase in charges.

He said: "To produce a report solely regarding charges in Warminster could cause problems with the other county towns.

"The district council need to review parking charges across the region and not just here in Warminster."

After the meeting, WITA vice-chairman Andrew Gorman said the town council must produce a positive action plan at the next Wednesday's meeting of the Car Park Working Group.

He said: "This is our last chance.

"Traders in Warminster want a minimum of two hours free parking for their customers and we would expect nothing less."