By Craig Evry

THE possibility of extending free parking in Warminster looks slimmer after a £95,000 renewal fee was slapped in place by West Wiltshire District Council.

The car-park lease is owned by Warminster Town Council, which is due to relinquish the lease next September.

But town councillors have been angered by the £95,000 fee which is more than double the £45,000 that is already paid annually.

A decision needs to be made over the future of free parking at a meeting of the town council on Monday, as precept rates need to be set by next January.

If the town council decides to take on the lease, it could mean an increase of £10 on the precept per taxpayer.

Cllr Chris March believes the district council is trying to railroad the town council into giving up the lease.

He said: "We would be prepared to consider a higher fee than what we are paying at the moment but to suggest £94,000 plus is completely out of the question.

"We are still awaiting the results of the survey but I am not going to buckle under the pressure from the district council.

"They are doing it to railroad us in to a corner and a few weaker councillors will give in and say there is no option.

"I have no sympathies with these views."

The town council is still awaiting the results of a survey being conducted by the Forum of Private Business, which is due at the beginning of next year and will indicate the views of the public and private business.

Len Turner, of Warminster and Wessex Chamber of Commerce, believes the fact that the district council had set a renewal figure is an improvement.

He said: "If the district council is saying that it is prepared to start considering issuing a new lease, that is a hopeful sign.

"If it is a genuine sum of money, and they thought they could make £2,000 out of car parks in Warminster every week, then we have to look at the issue seriously.

"They have to justify the increase in rental against the fee they get from other car parks in the area, then we would be in a genuine debate.

"This is a very difficult choice for the councillors."