A COUPLE from Eastleigh, who come to Salisbury at least once a month to shop and have lunch, say they will be cutting back on their visits because of the new parking charges.

Paul Stevens, 67, was fuming when he phoned the Journal to say how upset he and his wife Nicky were by their experience on Saturday. Mr Stevens, an area sales manager, said: “What a rip-off.

Wiltshire Council needs to start serving the community.

“It must be hitting the traders. I won’t be coming anywhere near as frequently.”

He said they generally like to park for about four hours and often buy bags of fruit and vegetables from the market, which they then leave in the car so they can walk around the town. “I don’t want to walk around with armfuls of shopping before getting on a park and ride bus back to the car,” he added.

“You hear people talk about ‘doughnut’ towns with a hole in the middle as everyone deserts them for the out-of-town shops which have free parking.

It’s the fault of greedy councils such as Wiltshire. They are not fit for purpose.”