A LEADING businessman in Cricklade has praised the decision of the town council to fork out £2,000 a year to prevent a free car park turning into a pay and display.

Cricklade Town Council faced an ultimatum to either allow Wiltshire Council to continue managing the facility but with the introduction of charges, or taking on the job itself.

At a meeting last week, councillors agreed to take on the car park with the £2,000 annual running costs coming from council coffers rather than by increasing council tax to foot the bill.

The decision has been praised by Bob Jones, chairman of the Cricklade Business Association, who said the loss of free parking would drive shoppers to neighbouring towns.

"If people came into the town and saw no free parking available, they would drive two miles down the road to the Swindon Orbital. Cricklade would massively lose out."Some workers would have to pay up to £35 a week and for those on minimum wage, that is an enormous amount.

"Getting a bus in a rural area is simply not an option. Free car parking in Cricklade is the difference between the town living or dying.

"A small town needs to encourage people to come and visit. These shops are on the edge of survival and they need every help they can get."

Mr Jones added that several businesses, including Financial Associates, had written to say they would move from the town if free parking was scrapped.

Cllr Mike Hatton said at the town council meeting: "If this town council takes control of the car park, we are in control of our own destiny for the town.

"It would benefit everybody to keep the car park free and we should go for it."

Chairman of CTC David Tetlow said the loss of free parking would be a huge concern.

"It will have a detrimental effect on the town because there is a shortage of car parking space as it is," he said.

The town council will take on the lease up until 2016 when it will be re-assessed. It now has responsibility for all costs including legal bills and insurance rates.