DISTRICT transport bosses are being urged to waive charges in two car parks to lessen the impact on traders when engineers start digging up a village high street next week.

Lib Dem Councillor Alan Macro has asked West Berkshire Council to introduce temporary free parking in its Theale car parks in Hoad Way, where there are around 50 spaces, and at the Post Office, which has roughly half-a-dozen bays.

Southern Gas Networks will begin its �222,000 project on Monday and expects the work to last 20 weeks. Some parking bays will be suspended, which will change as the project progresses, but the company said it will make "every effort" to keep open as many spaces as possible.

Cllr Macro said: "I am particularly concerned about the loss of parking spaces that the work will cause. The shops in the High Street rely on passing trade. If customers cannot find somewhere to park, they are likely to shop elsewhere."

Co-operative manager, Charles Cocks, added: "Any roadworks like this are going to affect our trade. I think providing free parking while the work is carried out is a great idea."

Access to shops, businesses and homes for pedestrians and deliveries will be maintained throughout, and traffic will still be able to use the High Street in both directions - although temporary lights will be used in stages.

Southern Gas, which is replacing the village's ageing mains with plastic pipes, also stressed it has a compensation scheme for businesses suffering genuine loss of trade during the work.

West Berkshire Council said it is considering Cllr Macro's request