WOOTTON Bassett's town council has rejected plans to introduce parking charges in the town.
Councillors voted unanimously against the proposal by North Wiltshire District Council to introduce parking charges in the Borough Fields car park.
Coun Chris Wannell (Con) said: "This is not about keeping traffic moving. It's about raising money for a cash-strapped district council.
"It is all about keeping the rates low so they will look good at the next election.
"It's a political ploy by the Liberal Democrats."
The town's councillors decided that introducing charges at Borough Fields would lead to congestion in other parts of the town, as motorists would choose to avoid the car park.
Coun Wannell said: "Unless a cohesive plan was brought in to regulate parking in surrounding areas and in private car parks, and residents' parking spaces provided, the plan could not work and would be a disaster for Wootton Bassett, causing damage to our shopping centre."
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