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TRADERS in Haverhill say increases in car parking charges will mean they lose customers to neighbouring towns where parking is free.
Car parking charges have been a long-standing issue in the town, with pressure group Enterprise 2000 and MP Richard Spring campaigning for free parking in the past.
After being pegged for the past six years, charges will rise by 25 per cent in January.
Queen Street jeweller Roy Hunnisett said the increases would make life harder for traders already facing tough competition.
"I totally oppose car parking charges, people don't like paying them and look for places where there is free parking.
"People are just sick to death of the local authority taking no notice of our views. We have only got one empty shop in the town at the moment and it had looked as if things were starting to look up."
Mark Chapman, who runs a cycle and electrical shop in High Street, said he planned to contact MP Richard Spring to pursue the campaign for free parking.
"I think parking should be free and the majority of traders would support that, but the council just does what it wants to anyway. If Newmarket and Sudbury can have it, then why can't we?
"We are competing with them and a number of my customers from the villages have told me they go to Newmarket because its free."
The increases, from January 1, are from 40p to 50p at the Jubilee Walk and Sports Centre car parks, for up to four hours, and from 80p to 90p for more than four hours. In the Lower Downs Slade and Town Hall car parks the 10p pop-in fee will remain the same, but the four hour charge will go up from 30p to 40p.