A WINCHESTER shopkeeper's call for a big increase in city centre car parking to save the city as a shopping destination has won the support of a Cabinet member.

Tony Whyman, owner of Childhood's Dream in the Brooks Centre, says the city centre is endangered because of the lack of parking.

In recent months the Friarsgsate multi-storey has closed and soon the Upper Brook Street car park will follow.

Speaking in a personal capacity Mr Whyman has produced a report which he has circulated to Winchester BID senior city councillors.

The report has won backing from Cllr James Byrnes, portfolio border for local economy.

Cllr Byrnes said: "It would make sense to increase short term parking in city centre and move long term parking out."

The council is considering a short-term fix of 60-80 temporary spaces when Friarsgate is is demolished. Another option is to boost Middle Brook Street either adding another deck or a basement, said Cllr Byrnes.

Designs for Station Approach revealed on Monday have included enlarged 700-space car park at the Cattle Market.

Cllr Byrnes said: "Our economy is predicated on visitors. When businesses tell me customers are going elsewhere because because it is not convenient to come to Winchester I have to take that on board. It is important we deal with the parking problem before it becomes a crisis. We are not too far from that."

Chris Gillham, of Winchester Friends of the Earth, said the policy would be illegal as it would break EU air pollution laws.

Mr Gillham said: "Mr Whyman and Cllr Byrnes appear to be arguing for killing more people in Winchester in exchange for a highly improbable economic benefit. Mr Whyman doesn’t have to be accountable for the city council breaking the law but Cllr Byrnes and Cllr Pearson (environmental portfolio holder) do.

"BID has also claimed that removal of parking (Friarsgate) has already had significant detrimental effect on footfall. Putting aside my very considerable doubts as to the scientific efficacy of the BID measurement of footfall, Phil Gagg of WinACC has shown that even the BID figures show no such detrimental effect following closure of Friarsgate."

He added: "Park and Ride is disgracefully underused. It intercepts scarcely any greater percentage of radial traffic now than it did before the huge P&R South was built in 2010.

"The city council have made many written commitments to central government and Highways England to remove an equivalent quantity of central car parking for every P&R parking provision made. It has signally failed to keep any of these promises."