SEASON tickets to park in Chippenham are set to sky rocket as Wiltshire Council considers imposing yet more new parking charges.

Under the proposals, which have already been approved by cabinet, drivers will be charged double the price to renew their season tickets, as well as potentially facing a £1 charge to park in car parks across the county on Sundays and the standard hourly rates on Bank Holidays.

In Bath Road and Sadlers Mead, season tickets would rise from £450 to £900 for a yearly pass, £225 to £450 for six months, £112.50 to £225 for three months and £37.50 to £75 for one month, while Brakemead and Spanbourne Avenue charges will rise to £540, 270, £135 and £67.50 respectively.

Prices in Wood Lane will also rise to £600, £300, £150 and £50 respectively.

Sandra Andrews, of Mail Boxes Etc, which backs out onto Bath Road car park, said: “I just think it is such a big increase. It is absolutely obscene.

“The parking lines aren’t event marked out properly in Bath Road and we have constant problems with our delivery driver not being able to access the back of the shop and now they’re hiking up the prices.

“We’re not the only business in the town that doesn’t have parking spaces, so this will impact us and our customers.

“There is no serious thought gone into this. If they want people to come into Chippenham town centre they need to stop driving people away.”

A number of businesses in the town have raised their concerns with the Chippenham BID, who have promised to speak to the council, especially as many firms do not recall receiving the initial consultation for the plans last January.

Kathryn Crosweller, of the BID, said: “We are aware that the changes to parking charges in Chippenham are causing local businesses anxiety, not just because of the increased cost for workers with seasonal permits to park in Chippenham but also the impact it may have on footfall.

“We are in the process of arranging to speak to Wiltshire Council about their plans in order to put forward the concerns of businesses in Chippenham town centre who already face challenges from out of town retail parks where parking is free of charge.”

Debbie Williams, president of the Chippenham Chamber of Commerce, added: “We are very disappointed to see the increase in parking charges which are coming into force.

“This will affect businesses in the town centre and will discourage people from visiting Chippenham. Lots of people who work in the centre may also struggle to pay the increase in parking charges.

“Chippenham Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting businesses in Chippenham to try and get this increase in charges revoked.”

Wiltshire Council declined to say why some businesses were not consulted.

A spokesman from Wiltshire Council said: “We consulted widely last autumn on a review of parking charges and had around 1,400 responses.

“We asked people for their views on reviewing the charges to help minimise the impact of funding challenges on public transport and other services.

“The changes will also fund investment in customer service. – including automatic number plate recognition for residents’ parking zones, static cameras outside schools to improve safety and body worn cameras.The consultation feedback was considered as part of the cabinet decision in January to go ahead with the proposed changes and we are now publicising the Traffic Regulation Orders across the county so people can see the changes and make any further comments before the closing date of May 21.

To comment on the proposals visit bit.ly/ChippParking.