A LAST-ditch appeal to Waverley borough councillors not to approve increased car park charges at next Tuesday’s decision-making meeting, was made by Haslemere Chamber of Commerce, this week.

As well as paying more for parking, residents face their weekly Wey Hill green waste service being axed, High Street public toilets being closed, shorter opening times at The Edge leisure centre, and a fresh attempt to turn the town’s free fairground car park into a pay and display.

Waverley’s 2017/18 budget is due to be ratified on Tuesday and many residents claim the town is one of the hardest hit in the raft of cost-cutting proposals – designed to plug a £1.5million shortfall.

Haslemere Chamber president David Goddin accused Waverley of favouring the “needs of its officials” rather than the voters whom they serve, and blasted its executive for being “out of touch” with the needs of business.

He said: “Increasing short-term parking charges will foster perceptions the town is expensive – and prejudice the work my chamber and others are doing to make Haslemere a more attractive destination for shopping and business in general – work that underpins economic growth.

His message ended: “Your elected and paid colleagues would do well to find more clever ways to cut the borough’s cloth. The alternatives are further damage to the local economy and the risk of major political consequences.”