PARKING charges are to be introduced in Malmesbury - despite furious opposition in the community.

Residents and visitors will now have to pay on Sundays and bank holidays once changes come in to affect later this month at all Wiltshire Council car parks.

The authority has also increased season ticket prices with on-street resident permits moving to a two-tier charging system.

Councillors in Malmesbury have slammed the decision, as they fear it could have a detrimental impact on trade, with one labelling the move a ‘disgraceful decision’.

Wiltshire Council owns Malmesbury’s two main car parks at Station Yard and the Cross Hayes in the town centre.

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “The previously announced changes to parking charges will begin on November 19.

“These changes are being made following a public consultation between September and November 2017, and a further consultation on the subsequent amended traffic regulation orders earlier this year.

“The cabinet member published the final decision on the changes last month and it was not contested by any members.”

Back in the autumn 2017, Wiltshire Council consulted on increasing and changing car park changes.

Charges were increased in February this year for Wiltshire Council owned car parks in the town and across the county.

At the time, Malmesbury Town Council objected to the introduction of any charges on Sunday or Bank Holidays, as did Corsham, Devizes and Malborough town councils.

Despite a previous consultation being rejected, Wiltshire Council announced at the time that they would have another look at introducing the charges in May.

Malmesbury mayor Fran Vandelli sent a letter to strongly object when the proposal was put forward.

“Malmesbury Town Council does not consider that the process followed by Wiltshire Council in response to the October & November 2017 and May 2018 consultations can be properly described as ‘consultation’, Mayor Vandelli said.

“It appears that, although the Highways Department went to considerable effort and expense to conduct these ‘consultations’, the responses opposing Sunday and bank holiday parking charges have been brushed aside.

“Malmesbury Town Council was unpleasantly surprised that a matter of this importance to the people of Wiltshire was not subject to review by Wiltshire Council as a whole, or its cabinet.”

Malmesbury’s Wiltshire Councillor Gavin Grant labelled the potential changes as ‘foolish’ when the proposal was first put forward, and he has already started a protest petition against the changes.

Cllr Grant said: “This is a disgraceful decision announced in an underhand way, totally ignoring the results of the recent public consultation that rejected these charges overwhelmingly.

“Malmesbury’s High Street traders, town centre residents and local church goers demand better.

“I am determined to see that they get it.

“I have launched a protest petition and urge everyone to sign it.

“If we get enough support we can force Wiltshire Council to debate these charges and hopefully get them dropped.‎”

If Cllr Grant’s petition reaches 5,000 signatures, Wiltshire Council’s rules means the full council has to debate the issue.

His goal is to hit that signatures target in time for the next council meeting in January.

For a full list of all the car parks affected, go to bit.ly/2CRhkCy.