PROPOSALS to introduce parking charges in Chipping Sodbury High Street have been branded ‘bonkers’.

Suggestions had been put forward to launch a £2 an hour charge to discourage the town’s employees from using valued spaces near the shops.

But the fee would deter shoppers from using the town altogether, say those opposed to the scheme.

Yate town councillor Chris Willmore said: "The aim is to help bring trade into our shopping centres. Charging to shop in Sodbury would kill it.

"We need to get rid of the all day parkers, who are blocking up Chipping Sodbury so there is no space for the shoppers to park outside the shops - rather then punishing the shoppers."

Parking problems in Chipping Sodbury have long been and several traffic surveys have been carried out in the town.

The latest concerns were raised at a joint traffic management group of Yate and Sodbury town councils and Dodington Parish Council.

Mayor of Sodbury Cllr Paul Whittle said: "The suggestion of introducing parking charges did not win support.

"It was quashed."

He said waiting restrictions would be a much more effective solution and would still attract customers to the town’s shops.

Said Cllr Whittle: "At the moment it is a free for all.

"If we look to the future and if the Waitrose development goes ahead and we therefore have a higher footfall in Chipping Sodbury, then there should be some sort of waiting restriction.

"There are residents businesses and shops in the High Street and we are hoping to try and improve things by the time Waitrose opens.

"I think there should be some waiting restrictions to enable easier access to the shops."

He said the situation was complicated by the fact that the chippings, where many people working in High Street shops and businesses park for the whole day, are privately owned.

He added: "There are meetings afoot in the next few months to try and resolve it.

"We are at a very early stage but it is still open for debate."

Dodington parish council chairman Cllr Mandy Sainsbury, who also runs the Ball of Wool shop in Chipping Sodbury High Street, said: "People who do take a space in the High Street all day ought to be penalised.

"They are stopping casual shoppers who will pop into a shop if they can find a space quickly."

She added: "If they do have to park all day why not use the car park that is so severely under used?

"We have a wonderful big car park which is very seldom full. We are lucky to have that car park and it is a shame it is not used."