Wiltshire Council threw out plans for one hour free parking in Wiltshire's towns and refused to back down on their increased parking charges last night.

The Conservative administration ignored a plea by traders to bring back a free hour of parking in Wiltshire’s towns.

Instead there will be just 10p taken off the first hour in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. Other towns will not see any reduction.

They will take 20 per cent off the price of season tickets and residents’ permits across the county.

The decision will be in place for on and off-street parking until 2014 at the earliest, but it is unlikely to stop thousands of people who signed petitions in Chippenham, Devizes and Salisbury from giving up their campaign.

A last ditch attempt to sway councillors was made by Mike Williams, president of the Wessex Chambers of Commerce, who represented 17 chambers at the meeting at Salisbury’s City Hall yesterday. He said: “We had been very concerned about the level of the proposed increases and the timing of the changes and I’m afraid to say our fears were not unfounded.

“We will not accept the council’s views that car parking charges are not affecting businesses in our towns.”

Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors attacked the plans. Chippenham councillor Desna Allen challenged them to introduce half an hour free parking in every Wiltshire Council car park.

Cllr Nigel Carter, from Devizes Guardians, said: "A 10p reduction is planned for Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury but what about our other communities?"

Cllr Jon Hubbard, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, called on Wiltshire Council to hand over control of its car parks to the communities that use them. He said: “The best people to decide on parking charges for our communities are communities themselves. We are a council that preaches localism – let’s put that into practice.

“Let’s work with the towns to find ways of setting pricing for car parks at levels that support and nurture them, not bleed them dry.”

Defiant council bosses won a crucial vote on the charges. Cllr Dick Tonge, cabinet member for highways, said: “There is no evidence that reducing the charges would have any effect.”

Council leader Jane Scott said: “We have listened to local residents and businesses and I hope we can now move forward and promote everything our excellent shopping centres have to offer.”