Carol O'Gorman, the new leader of North Wiltshire District Council, has defended the consultation process surrounding controversial new parking charges that could soon be implemented across North Wiltshire.

Coun O'Gorman, who took over the council leadership on Tuesday, denied claims from local traders that the consultation process had been a sham and that their views had been ignored.

The news follows the leaking of a report to the Gazette showing the latest recommendations of the car park working group. It also follows the news that the position of portfolio holder for car parking stands vacant after Ross Henning was removed from the post following a reshuffle.

The leaked report follows the consultation period after new parking fee proposals were approved at a meeting of the district council in

December. The report includes car parking suggestions from Chippenham, Wootton Bassett, Corsham, Calne, Malmesbury and Castle Combe, followed by the working group's recommendations.

Of the 16 suggestions put forward only one has been fully backed and put forward as a recommendation by the working group. Seven have received no support with seven others gaining partial support and one with no recommendation put forward.

But Coun O'Gorman denied that the consultation had not been taken on board. She said: ""We had hundreds of responses and each and every one was looked at and we feel that the consultation process was carried out fairly and clearly."

Coun O'Gorman denied that the charges were to raise money for the council and said they were aimed at helping, not hindering, the towns.

She said: "The money will go into setting up and running costs. There's no money made from this for four years and then any money will go back into the community scheme.

"Anyone who has done work in market town research will know that the best way to improve the revenue is to increase the footfall and the way to do that is to increase car parking turnover."

The working group's report is expected to be put before the Executive for ratification on June 16.

The radical new vision for North Wiltshire car parks includes charging where it is currently free and imposing hikes in parking fees and fines. The district council will also recruit four new car park attendants to impose fines on ticket dodgers.

The new regime could raise £500,000 for the district council.

Parking fees

Chippenham: Borough Parade, Emery Gate and Gladstone Road, the charge for two hours will rise from 65p to £1 and from £1.60p to £2 for four hours.

In Church Street where parking at the moment is free the charges for two hours will be £1, four hours £2, up to eight hours £4.

Corsham: parking at High Street, Post Office Lane will cost £1 for two hours and £2 for four hours.

Malmesbury: the cost of parking at Cross Hayes will go from 25p to 50p for one hour and 50p to £1 for two hours.

In Station Road the one hour free parking will disappear to be replaced by a charge of 60p for one hour, £1 for two hours, £2 for four hours and £4 for up to four hours.

Wootton Bassett: In Borough Fields the first hour will remain free but after that there will be a charge of £1 for two hours and £2 for up to four hours.