SHOPPERS have vowed to go elsewhere after parking charges were doubled.

Wycombe District Council has raised the one hour charge in Marlow's Central Car Park, behind West Street, from 30p to 60p. The increase which came in on Monday morning, took shoppers by surprise and was universally condemned.

Anne Hudson, of Marlow Bottom, came to the car park with 30p. When she got to the pay station she was forced to leave the car park because she did not have the extra change.

She said: " I am not going to come here and mess around looking for a parking space and then pay 60p."

Another shopper, Suzie Peters, of Mundaydean Lane, said: "I have to come here every other day. I will just spend longer driving to try and find on-street parking. I will consider going to other places to shop. Sixty pence is just too much."

The move comes just weeks after businesses were involved in a furious battle with the council over a 47 per cent hike in long-stay charges.

The council reconsidered last week and the rise will go from £3.40 to £4.50 instead of up to £5.

Colin Berks, president of Marlow Chamber of Trade, said: "We do not support any rise unless there's suitable alternative parking, public transport and a proper parking and transport strategy for the town. The traders in the town are suffering. They are under enormous difficulty anyway trying to attract staff. They just see this as another nail in the coffin."

A district council spokesman said: "The car park has a designated half-hour stay parking bay for people wishing to do some quick shopping. A green ticket machine specifically for the half-hour bays can be found next to the bays. Whilst this charge has gone up from 10p to 30p, our two hour stay has remained exactly the same for people wishing to stay longer in the town."

What do you think, asks chamber

RESIDENTS have a chance to say no to increased parking charges after 4,000 leaflets were distributed in the town.

The leaflets, put out by the Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce, asks people to write to Wycombe District Council objecting to the increases.

This is the latest move by businesses in the town desperate to get Monday's parking charge hike dropped until alternatives such as better public transport and a park and ride scheme are provided.

The chamber and the council are also involved in a wrangle over the consultation process leading up to the rise.

The chamber claim the council told them about the rise rather than consulted them.

Colin Berks, president of Marlow Chamber of Trade, said: "Being told that the car parking charges are going up and the council taking no notice of the objections or representations is to our mind not consultation."

The chamber waqs further angered by Cllr Maurice Oram speaking at a Marlow Town Council meeting on March 20.

He said he had heard from a member of Wycombe District Council's parking transport and environment committee that Marlow Chamber of Trade had agreed to the rise in principle.

Colin Berks, president of the chamber, said: "We strongly object to the comments of Councillor Oram. This chamber has been consistent and has made numerous submissions and representations against any increase."

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "Whilst the council stated that the chamber has been consulted, no statement has been made on behalf of the council concerning their support for the new charges. We accept that the chamber has not expressed its support for the changes."