Can I draw readers’ attention to a campaign that Councillor Terry Chivers and I are currently running?

It concerns the cost of using Wiltshire Council car parks and the decline of the independent traders on our high streets.

Under the Sustainable Commun-ities Act 2007 it is possible for Wiltshire Council to put a levy on all Wiltshire supermarkets.

The details of the amount of the levy, and what size of floor space counts as a supermarket, will have to be worked out.

The amount raised by the levy would be used to reduce car parking charges.

This would allow independent shops to have a fair chance.

As it is, supermarkets take many millions out of the Wiltshire economy and put very little back into the local community The point, however, is to get the council to agree in principle and then to firm up the most viable details.

We will be doing this by putting a notice of motion at Wiltshire Council on Tuesday, November 12.

We want to urge Wiltshire residents to back this campaign by going online to: http://you.38degrees.

org. uk/petitions/levy-on-wiltshire-supermarkets Every click will help build the case, but if you are not online, please contact me and I will send you a paper petition.

Jeff Osborn, Independent Wiltshire Councillor, Chepston Place, Trowbridge.