A petition against the cut in free parking in Devizes Market Place is gathering momentum, say organisers.

Devizes Guardians and Devizes Chamber of Commerce have launched a petition to retain the free one hour parking in the Market Place. Wiltshire Council plans to cut it to half an hour from April.

Ted East, a Devizes Guardians town councillor, said: “We have had a very positive response. Virtually everybody we have talked to says the decision to change is wrong , they can’t see any logical reason for it.

“It has struck a chord with the vast majority, including people from outside Devizes who come to the town to shop. They say further parking restrictions will deter them from coming to Devizes.

“We will be collecting the petition forms at the end of this week so we would ask people who haven’t signed to do so soon.”

Petition forms are in town centre shops and online at www.devizeschamber.org.uk