Concerns are growing among Hadleigh businesses that new increases to car parking charges in the town are in the pipeline.

Babergh's cabinet will discuss the options to increase parking fees in the car parks the district council own, when they hold their next month meeting, on January 7.

Traders have staved off increases in the past and see it as detrimental to all business in the town centre, especially in a depressed economy.

Among those is Ian Grutchfield, co-owner of arts and events centre Hadleigh Old School, who is concerned people will be put off coming into the town by the increased charges and the potential loss of a car park near his venue in Bridge Street.

"Free parking is one of the few advantages left with the town centre businesses of Hadleigh," Mr Grutchfield said: "We have limited public transport, no railway station and many people from the villages say it is not practical to cycle with shopping.

"It would be a body blow to have new charges during this recession."

The issue was also brought up during the public session of the Hadleigh Town Council meeting last Thursday but councillors were not aware of the plan.

Members of the Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce are understood to be looking at ways of stopping the attempts to increase the car parking charges.

The money raised by increased fees at the loss making car parks would be used to maintain the sites.

A spokeswoman for Babergh said: "Babergh District Council is set to consider the detail and conclusions of the Town Centres Parking Study at its next cabinet meeting on January 7.

"All reports relating to this, and other agenda items, will be published on our website in advance of the meeting. A livestream of the meeting will also be available to view for members of the public, and details of this can be found on our website and social media channels."

"Babergh District Council remains committed to supporting towns and high streets across the district, as we look to help them recover from the impact of Covid in 2021 and beyond. We continue to dispense business grants to everyone eligible under the Government's schemes, and to date we have paid out over £1MIL of the new Local Restrictions Support Grant to 659 businesses in Babergh.

"Encouraging innovation and growth remains a priority for our council, as demonstrated by the recognition of local businesses, including Hadleigh's Challs International Ltd, at our inaugural Innovation Awards earlier this year."