RESIDENTS and businesses fear sweeping changes to parking charges, including an end to free Sunday and bank holiday parking, will drive away shoppers and damage the town centre.

The new regime will begin on November 19, as the Christmas shopping season is underway. A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said that season tickets prices would also increase and on-street resident permits would be moving to a two-tier charging system.

“These changes are being made following a public consultation between September and November 2017, and a further consultation on the subsequent amended traffic regulation orders earlier this year. The cabinet member published the final decision on the changes last month and it was not contested by any members,” he said.

But Debbie Williams, president of Chippenham Chamber of Commerce, said that as a resident and speaking for the chamber, she worried about the impact of the new charges.

“As someone who lives in Chippenham, I don’t like having to pay for parking, if I am going to spend my hard-earned cash in shops in town, and I think a lot of people feel the same. My concern is that people will not come to Chippenham to shop on Sundays and bank holidays. It’s great when it’s free, as it brings people in.”

She said that as president of the chamber, she had worries for businesses in the town.

“Only time will tell, but I worry it will be a deterrent to customers. There are other places people can choose to go where you don’t have to pay.”

Father of three Tarek Jany, who lives on the Pewsham estate, said: "We drive in on Sundays and make use of the free parking. With four or five of us, it would be expensive to take a bus, even if those were regular. I appreciate the council wants to raise revenue, but have they entertained other options?"

Mr Jany thought shoppers would simply go elsewhere: "People may go to out of town retail parks. It's another nail in the coffin of the High Street."

Kathryn Crosweller, speaking for Chippenham BID (Business Improvement District) said they were disappointed that the council was going ahead with the planned increases to parking charges but were glad the incremental increase in charging would allow town centre workers to prepare for the rise in cost.

“We are continuing to work with Wiltshire Council to find alternative, long-term solutions to the parking problem facing Chippenham," she said.