'The high-street will die with new parking charges'

Businesses owners have warned that new parking charges pose a "significant threat" to the future of their independent high-street.

South Gloucestershire Council introduced the car park charges across its area on 19 May covering 08:00 until 18:00, Monday to Saturday.

But businesses on Kingswood High Street have come together to write an open letter asking the council to re-think the move, which sees drivers charged 70p for the first hour in short stay car parks, rising to £5 for up to four hours.

Cabinet member for communities and local place, Sean Rhodes, said the council needed to bring in the charges due to the £2m black hole in the council's budget.