TOWNS and villages are standing united in their campaign against new charges for on-street parking.

Surrey County Council wants to introduce meters for short-term parking spaces at ten locations across Mole Valley by November.

But more than 1,800 people have already signed a county-wide petition against the plans.

District Councillor Caroline Salmon, who owns The Wow Gallery in Dorking, set up the online petition.

She said: "Anyone who doesn't want to pay 70p or 50p per half hour for currently free one-hour parking places and who believes, like I do, that this proposal will seriously effect the vitality and viability of our towns and villages, should sign the petition as soon as possible.

"This impacts on Wow, but also in every High Street across Surrey, and it will impact negatively on trade."

Separate petitions are also running at shops in Ashtead and Bookham.

PARKING FIGHT: Residents and traders from Bookham have set up and signed petitions against the new charges

About 3,500 short-term spaces in Surrey have been identified for new charges, including 61 in Dorking and 109 in Leatherhead, Bookham and Ashtead.

The petition says introducing charges will disadvantage local retailers and commerce at a time of economic difficulty.

Andy Smith, director of the Surrey branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "Ending free parking in high streets will eventually kill off local shops as it will drive people increasingly towards the out-of-town superstores where they can still park for free.

"This is not just an issue for businesses, it is something that cuts right to the heart of local communities."

The campaign is being backed by Liberal Democrat councillors, who are calling on the county council to scrap its plans.

Councillor Stephen Cooksey (Lib Dem, Dorking and the Holmwoods) has tabled a motion which will be discussed at the full council meeting on March 22.

He said: "The plan put forward by the council's Conservative cabinet is a blow to market towns and villages in Surrey during a time of economic difficulty.

"It will hit many of Surrey's small businesses hard, discouraging short visits to local shops and result in even more pressure on already overcrowded residential streets."

A county council spokeswoman said the council believes on-street parking charges will stimulate business by increasing the turnover of cars in town centres and parades of shops.

The petition is only available online and can be signed at petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/ ParkingCharges until March 23.

OPPOSITION: Dorking traders protest against the changes