THE campaign to keep Corsham's free shoppers' parking is well under way.

Traders and residents have reacted angrily to a review that will decide whether Corsham's two hours free parking should be scrapped.

The review, by North Wiltshire District Council, will look at whether charges should be brought in at the Newlands Road short and long-stay car parks, and the car park alongside the Methuen Arms. All are owned by the council, which starts the review later this month.

The council has said there are currently no proposals to bring in charges, but the review will be looking at whether free parking should be axed to bring Corsham in line with other towns.

Spokesman Paul Langcaster said: "Whether charges should or should not be introduced in Corsham is one of the things the working party will be looking at."

Town, district and county councillor Peter Davis said he had been inundated with phone calls from people angry about the threat to the free parking.

He said Wiltshire County Council had already recommended the two hours' free parking be maintained.

He said: "We are doing our best to improve Corsham and a lot of money is being spent on enhancing the town.

"We are about to start development on the precinct, which will double the size of the supermarket. We hope it will stop traders leaving Corsham and induce people to come back.

Mr Davis has already started the campaign with the district council, impressing on planning officers how important the free parking is.

He said: "I have said that if we start charging we shall soon find customers taking their trade elsewhere I suspect along the road another two miles to the free car park at Sainsburys."