Residents in Pewsey have given their parish council the go-ahead to try and take over the village’s two car parks rather than run the risk of Wiltshire Council introducing parking charges.

Over the years the village has escaped the parking fees that the former Kennet District Council levied in Marlborough and Devizes.

Now Wiltshire Council has asked the parish council if it would be interested in taking over the car parks at the Bouverie Hall and the smaller one by Haybrook House, behind Marshall’s Bakery.

On Tuesday last week the parish council agreed unanimously to start talks with Wiltshire Council, although the car parks will not come entirely free because business rates of about £2,500 a year will need to be paid. It called a special parish meeting on Monday to discuss the issue and the 100 people attending unanimously supported the council’s intention to run the car parks.

Chairman Alex Carder said: “It was a well attended and a very good meeting without 100 present and they were very supportive of the parish council taking over the car parks.”

Pewsey had until the end of September to tell Wiltshire Council of its intention.

County councillors will make a decision in December and, if they agree, Pewsey will run its own car parking from next year.

Coun Carder said: “I pointed out to the meeting that it would mean an increase in the precept amounting to about £1.90 per household per year.

“People were quite happy to accept that rather than have to pay for parking every time they come into the centre of the village.

“It was pointed out that the extra £1.90 each household will have to pay each year was the equivalent of about two hours in a car park if charging was introduced.”

Coun Carder said some neighbouring parishes had said they would pay a contribution towards the car park running costs because their residents would benefit.

The parishes are already paying towards the cost of keeping open the public toilets in the Bouverie Hall car park, which Pewsey took over when Kennet proposed closing them.