TRADESMEN in Salisbury have vowed to keep fighting Wiltshire Council’s city centre parking system after a meeting left them unsatisfied with the council’s solutions.

Twenty-five representatives of businesses across Salisbury met at St Francis Church Hall on Monday to quiz Chris Major, parking services manager for Wiltshire, Richard Tonge, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, and Cindy Demain-Griffiths, head of the civil enforcement team and parking manager for Salisbury, about the system, which they say is making it very difficult for them to do their jobs.

The main issues raised were the lack of common sense from traffic wardens issuing tickets when they are loading and unloading and the expense and difficulties in getting waivers that allow them to park in residents only zones.

Mr Tonge said: “We do understand the problems that you have, we can’t guarantee to do everything but hope we can make some progress.”

In the past a waiver was £3 a day and they could have it faxed to them, but the rate was raised to £10 a day to match the rest of the county and a need for increased security means they now have to spend valuable working hours going to the council office to buy one.

Mr Major said they were working on solving that problem by having virtual waivers that people could buy online and print out themselves, preventing the need to go to the council office. The tradesmen were happy with this suggestion but rejected the other offer, made by leader of the council Jane Scott, to change the system so they only need one £10-a-day waiver to cover any zone, rather than spending £10 per zone.

They said this was still too expensive and would mean adding £50 to a client’s bill for a week’s work. They want to work towards an annual waiver.

Many of the traders were also keen for the council to put together a booklet explaining what they can and can’t do in terms of parking so they don’t end up arguing with traffic wardens over what the rules are. Mrs Demain-Griffiths said a lot of education was needed and they would be able to put together a booklet. Ian Newman, chairman of Salisbury City Centre Management, said he would make sure everyone at the meeting got a copy and that some are kept at the CCM office for any other interested businesses.

Addressing the traders, he said: “You have had a success tonight, at least they have come out and heard what you want to say. And the booklet will be a great start.”

Lance Foord, who organised the meeting, said he hoped to work towards setting up an association and holding regular meetings so they can continue to fight for changes to the system.