Car park charges across the borough look set to increase despite the credit crunch, protests and opposition councillors suggesting alternative measures.

Wokingham Borough Council bosses will look at plans to put car park-ing prices up in the town centre as well as Woodley, Wargrave and Twyford during a meeting tomorrow.

If the executive approves the scheme, prices will go from 60p to 70p for an hour’s parking and £1 to £1.20 for two hours in the major car parks in Woodley and Wokingham.

But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which is running the Keep Trade Local campaign supported by The Wokingham Times, has expressed disappointment at the likely Wokingham Borough Council decision.

The group says the council should be doing more to encourage people into the town and feels increasing prices may drive shoppers to out-of-town supermarkets with free parking.

The council has also received 20 letters of representation from people across the borough objecting to the plan.

And the opposing Liberal Democrats have hit out at the plans and will be submitting a motion for debate at a future council meeting suggest-ing allowing half-an-hour’s free parking.

If approved, the charges will increase from next Wednesday.

The Keep Trade Local campaign aims to highlight the plight of small businesses and get shoppers and the local council to do more to support them.

- Read this week's Wokingham Times for more and to read the first of our Trader of the Week profiles.

- Is the council right to increase the car parking prices? Click the link below to have your say.