PARKING will remain free on Sundays across the county, after the council made a U turn and announced it would not introduce the unpopular parking fees.

Instead, parking will remain free on a Sunday and £8m of investment will be made to improve town centres in the area.

The move comes after criticism of the plans, including a petition against the weekend charges that gained popularity over the weekend. Thousands of residents and local businesses signed the petition to express their concerned that the charges would drive visitors away from high streets.

Lib Dem councillor Gavin Grant was behind the petition and said: “It was always a very bad idea and we welcome the decision. It is a victory for people power and common sense.”

The council say that as well as stopping Sunday parking charges it will spend £8m over the next year to address potholes, improve white lining, weed removal, kerb and pavement improvements, verges and improved road signage.

Although Sunday charges will be dropped, season ticket, residents permit and car park charges will still all increase from today.

Despite going out to public consultation, no public debate about the car parking fees has been held by Wiltshire Council and concerns have already been raised that Sunday charges could be re introduced in the future.

Councillor Ian Thorn, leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “I am pleased that the council has listened to the public. I think it is interesting that the two times that council has made a U turn is when there has been a big response of the public voicing their concern. The two examples are for these parking charges and the motion to close Oxenwood and Braeside.

“It is a shame that the shop keepers have had the worry about what impact the Sunday charges will have.

“The administration need to listen to residents when they respond to a consultation and also to have these discussions out in the open. Had this been brought initially before full council to debate we might never have got to this stage.

“The pot hole grant from the government is a one off payment so there is a genuine concern that this will come back in a years time."

Cllr Grant continued: "The council need to listen to people, otherwise people will think there’s no point in even taking part in the consultation, which is bad for democracy.

“The council should have talked to the chambers of commerce, businesses and the town councils who are working to make towns like Malmesbury an attractive place to go. If they had done that they would have heard that it was a ridiculous idea.

“This idea never went before cabinet or full council for debate, they should have presented their plan and been open enough to defend it. Instead it was buried deep and not discussed and I think that is what leaves a bed taste in people’s mouths.”

Cabinet member for highways, Bridget Wayman, said: “We have listened to our local communities and businesses, and I am pleased that we have decided to use both the funding from central Government and council funding to support our local communities and towns.

“We know that the local environment matters to our communities and this programme will make those visible improvements that we all care about.

“We have listened to feedback and acted. In recent years we have increased investment in Wiltshire’s roads and this additional commitment will deliver further improvements.”