TRADERS in Westbury fear new car parking charges are killing off business in the town.
Six independent businesses have written to West Wiltshire District Council to ask them to reduce the price hike.
Across all of west Wiltshire charges almost doubled in April to £3.50 for a full day.
John Evans, manager at the Open Golf Shop in the High Street estimates trade has dropped by 10 per cent since the charges were introduced.
He said: "These car parking charges are having a serious impact on the economic viability of the shops in the High Street.
"In the last month since these charges have been introduced most businesses' takings are down by at least 10 per cent.
"Westbury has the smallest shopping facility of all the five towns in west Wiltshire with the majority of shops being small businesses.
"The car parking charges are nothing short of a tax on the people of Westbury, they are being charged to use the facilities here."
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