Parking in the town centre is currently free on Sundays, but Aylesbury Vale District Council wants to introduce the flat-rate – of possibly £1 – to offset part of a £150,000 shortfall in revenue caused by fewer vehicles using the town's car parks.

The proposals stem from AVDC's belief that Sunday is now effectively a normal trading day and its fear that consumers are deliberately moving their shopping day to Sunday to exploit free parking.

However, a council-appointed independent review group is concerned that a Sunday charge would dissuade shoppers from coming to Aylesbury and reduce the number of visitors attending weekend events.

The group, consisting of business representatives and councillors, has roundly objected to the plans – which will be discussed further at an AVDC economy scrutiny committee meeting tonight (Wednesday).

Lynne Cairns, a panel member and spokesperson for the Bucks Economic Partnership, said: "The review group was almost without exception against the idea of Sunday charges. With the town centre undergoing so many changes and so much disruption at the moment: it's not overly attractive to visitors. Anything that would put them (visitors) off coming to the town should be avoided. It's all a question of balance."

Town council clerk Margaret Wagstaff was also part of the review group; she echoed concerns that the timing isn't right for the introduction of a Sunday parking charge.

Mrs Wagstaff said: "Weekend events are bringing a lot of people into the town – people who may not come in if they had to pay to park. We do not want to undermine the success these (weekend) events are having."

The review group also opposed plans to recoup lost revenue by hiking short-stay parking fees. The proposed increases – of around 10p-20p an hour – have been tabled with a view to generating an estimated £100,000 a year.

With footfall in the town on the increase, the panel was again concerned that the increases would dissuade shoppers from visiting Aylesbury.

Roger Simmons, chairman of the Town Centre Partnership, said that footfall in Hale Leys shopping centre was up, and branded the proposed short-stay increases as 'inappropriate'.

But he did back the idea of a flat-rate on Sundays.

He added: "I personally think that people will not object to paying £1 to park when they come into the town centre on a Sunday."

Would you be happy to pay £1 to park on a Sunday?

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