FURIOUS traders confronted Wiltshire Council bosses today to demand a cut in the parking charges that are destroying their businesses.

Transport portfolio holder Dick Tonge was also presented with petitions signed by more than 7,000 readers by Journal publisher Bill Browne as he arrived for the meeting at the Pheasant Inn.

Inside, it was standing room only as the traders told cllr Tonge and his Cabinet colleague John Brady they needed “immediate help”, including a return of £1 one-hour parking, and extended opening hours for the park and ride.

Cllr Tonge offered to meet City Centre Management and other business representatives next Friday, to work out a possible package of proposals.

But he added that he would then have to carry out an assessment of the financial impact with officers.

Then there would be a public consultation via the council’s website.

The results of that would have to be presented to a Cabinet meeting, and if the Cabinet approved, the council would be legally bound to issue a traffic regulation order which would have to be published in the Journal for further consultation.

Cllr Tonge could not say how long all that would take but he has the council’s legal department looking into it. It is likely to be months, rather than weeks.

The traders, who between them represent 3,500 employees, are angry that nothing can be done sooner.

Shopkeeper Theresa Wood was applauded when she declared: “You put the new parking charges in and the whole city shut down. We don’t have time.

“I haven’t got six weeks left. I am going to lose my home and my business and make three more people redundant. Salisbury is going to die.”

City councillor Bobbie Chettleburgh told him: “We all trusted you and it has gone horribly wrong.”

* Full story in Thursday’s Journal.