MEMBERS of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust are furious that the district council is considering introducing parking charges outside their headquarters at Devizes Wharf.

Members of Kennet District Council's community development executive committee agreed on Tuesday to authorise Mark Smith, their environment and amenities services manager, to consult over bringing in parking charges at the eastern end of the Wharf.

The area would be called the Couch Lane car park and would be regulated as a short stay pay-and-display car park serving local shops and businesses.

But Pete Jordan, manager of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust's operations at the Wharf, said he had not been told about the proposals until he was rung by the Gazette on Monday.

He said: "We were consulted about marking off the parking spaces but there was no mention of introducing car parking charges.

"This will have a great impact on the volunteers who man our shop and work in administration. They come from all over the county and of course need to bring their cars and I do not want them stung for £4 a day for parking on top of that."

The area outside the Wharf Theatre is to be regulated as well, but there is to be no introduction of car parking charges there.

Wharf chairman Adrian Gilder said: "I have been informed that they want to bring this area into regulation so that abandoned vehicles can be dealt with, but I have been assured there is no intention to bring in charging."

Councillors also approved a change in excess charges for overparking in both off-street and on-street places. Currently the charge is £60, reduced to £20 if paid within 14 days and £40 if paid within 28 days. The full charge remains the same but the discounted sum is now £30 if paid within 28 days.

Councillors agreed an increase in the cost of season tickets from £382 plus VAT to £422 plus VAT for 12 months, an increase of more than ten per cent.