A TANDEM petition, objecting to Sunday car parking charges in Alton, has in excess of 3,000 signatures.

To be presented to East Hampshire District Council on Wednesday, the original petition, raised by resident Mick Wells, has attracted more than 1,600 signatures, with a similar number being collected by the Liberal Democrats.

Both petitions are calling for EHDC to cut short its trial and abolish Sunday charging, which many regard as an unfair tax that is having an adverse impact on the town and its community.

With just days left for anyone who may want to add their name, Mr Wells has been discussing the matter with EHDC lead councillor for Alton, Andrew Joy.

Mr Wells said his decision to launch a petition was triggered by visitors and exhibitors attending the Sunday Bottle Fairs at Alton Community Centre.

As the organiser, he found that people were unhappy about paying for parking on a Sunday when other towns in the area do not charge.

Mr Wells detected a ground swell of opinion that echoed that feeling.

"People are angry over the unfairness of the charge – while they may accept the principle of having to pay during the week, charging on a Sunday loses the good will factor," said Mr Wells who has been staggered by the response to his petition.

It has appealed to all sections of the community, including churchgoers, shoppers, residents, visitors and those who are trying to attract people to the town by organising events.

"It cannot possibly be making money for the council because most people coming into town on a Sunday park on the roads or in Sainsbury's car park, which is free," said Mr Wells who would like any decision to reverse the Sunday charging policy "wrapped up" by January 1.

Responding to the petition, Mr Joy said: "This is of tremendous value to the council in that it gives a true indication of residents' and visitors' views."

He said that it was thanks to people like Mr Wells that councillors now had something tangible to work with and that should be dealt with in a constructive way.

Speaking about the Lib Dem petition Tony Ludlow stressed that it carried the same wording used by Mick Wells, and that it was not a political weapon.

Dr Ludlow told The Herald: "The local Liberal Democrats opposed Sunday charges from the start but we needed evidence of public feeling. Just as we decided to start a petition of our own, we became aware of Mick Wells' petition and agreed with him that we should combine our efforts and use his wording.

"So this is not a party political petition. As soon as you start collecting signatures, you take on the trust of  the public. The public are willing to sign on this issue irrespective of the party they usually support. I have never known a petition that the public were more willing to sign. Fewer than three per cent declined, and most people signing said thank you."

The two Alton petitions, along with a similar petition from Petersfield, calling in addition for smaller weekday charges, will be presented to EHDC during a Full Council meeting, to take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday at Penns Place, Petersfield.