Relief for motorists in Malmesbury facing a hike in parking charges may come in the form of a season ticket at a cost of £6.27 a week.

Volunteers and low-paid shop assistants had expressed concern that they may be forced to quit their jobs at the prospect of paying the increased rate of £5.60 for a day’s parking at the Station Yard car park.

Now Wiltshire Council’s portfolio holder for Highways Dick Tonge has proposed an annual season ticket which would cost £326.28.

He said the shortfall in Government funding had to be found and the other alternative was slashing bus services.

“Wiltshire will be getting 28 per cent less over the next four years, he said.

“If car parking charges were to stay at their current levels this would result in an income loss of £1.5m.

“Within my cabinet portfolio the only way I could accommodate this is to reduce bus subsidies which would decimate bus services in Wiltshire.

“The other alternative would be to increase council tax; either of these would hit the most vulnerable in society most.”

Coun Tonge’s proposals would also allow businesses and organisations to have one parking permit held in the name of the company which could be used by any staff member, in a move to help part-time workers.

Coun Tonge said that Malmesbury had been one of the cheapest places to park in the county and a fairer system needed to be adopted.

He said: “For many years Malmesbury has had the lowest long-term parking costs in Wiltshire.

“The daily charge of £1.20 compared with Corsham and Chippenham at £5.10, Melksham, Warminster and Westbury at £3.80 and Marlborough at £6.10.”