Parking charges are "killing" small firms on the high street, according to one industry body.
Matt Goodman, policy representative of the Forum of Private Business, believes that the government must take action as charges are causing consumers to "shun" town centres.
He said: "Access is a major component in determining the future of our town and city centres. More taxes on motorists mean that high street shops are less able to compete for trade against the larger retailers."
Parking charges damage both shops and communities as a whole as they take money out of the pockets of both businesses and consumers, he added.
He cited a survey carried out by the Confederation of British Industry which found that 60 per cent of retailers have experience a fall in sales in the first half of July when compared to last year.
Meanwhile the British Retail Consortium has stated that it believes the UK will not experience a recession in the next couple of years.
