Traders and councillors in Wootton Bassett are urging residents to voice their concerns on controversial parking charges, which they believe will sound the death knell for the town if implemented.

At last week's town council meeting Coun Steve Walls described North Wiltshire District Council's plans for off street parking charges as "one of the biggest things that's going to happen to this town in recent years".

The district council's proposal for a new off street parking order would see fees introduced to the Borough Fields car park between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.

The first hour would be free with £1 being charged for up to two hours of parking and £2 being charged for up to four hours of parking. A season ticket would cost £220.

The proposed order, which is set to be implemented in the summer, covers all of North Wiltshire and includes car parks in Chippenham, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Corsham, Calne, Castle Combe and Box.

But town councillors and traders believe the situation in Wootton Bassett is an exceptional case and that the town needs its own parking strategy as opposed to being included in a district wide scheme.

In a written report Coun Peter Roberts said: "The rationale behind the introduction of car parking charges is clear money.

"Yet another cash cow for the Liberal Democrats to milk to death and squander.

"What we need is a clear overall strategy to alleviate our parking problems. The motive should be to ease traffic congestion and if it raises money all well and good, not to raise money and never mind if it solves the problem."

The town council has sent a proposal to the district council for a policy for the whole town, to include not just off-street parking but also High Street parking and residents' parking.

It has also proposed that the free parking allowance be increased to two hours.

Wootton Bassett Chamber of Commerce has conducted research into how High Street traders and residents view the proposals and will soon submit its findings to North Wiltshire District Council.

Chamber president Brian Taylor said: "Our research shows that once charges are in force people will try and park in unrestricted areas, like the High Street, which will only add to the problems we have.

"People also feel that one hour of free parking would not be long enough and would adversely affect the restaurateurs and other businesses serving lunches and snacks and so should be increased to two hours.

"They don't know Wootton Bassett as we do and if this goes ahead the shops will die and with them the town."

Ross Henning, a Chippenham councillor and the district's portfolio holder for parking and decriminalisation, said: "Some of those options we may be able to take on board and there maybe some that we can't.

"I don't think there's any point in introducing two hours free parking because we wouldn't be able to raise the revenue for the policing of the car parks and the streets."

Consultation ended in January having been extended for a month although Coun Henning said they would still take representations on board.

"Wootton Bassett is difficult but it's no different from any other town. Each town has its own idiosyncrasies."