The call to levy a local tax of 8.5 per cent on supermarkets and stores to subsidise and reduce council parking charges is outrageous.

Councillors claim the move would reinvigorate the county’s High Streets yet the council has long been adamant that parking charges do not affect High Street trade. (Considering said council reduces fees for a limited time at Christmas for the stated intentions of “boosting trade”, as the Americans would say, “Go figure”).

Retailers, along with all other businesses have been struggling through the recent economic times, striving to minimise costs to remain viable and profitable and in some cases providing parking for their customers. For the council to slap a levy on the businesses will hit the bottom line, is unrelated to the business and in some cases will actually be used to support their competition. To expect business to fund a reduction in council charges whilst the council sits and gathers the full income is outrageous and grossly unfair and yet another “cash grab”.

If the council is so keen on reducing its own charges to stimulate trade, how about funding it themselves through cost savings rather than inflicting it on the businesses who, after all, are the wealth and job creators?

G Howard, Lower Marsh Road, Warminster.