Businesses have been queuing up to voice their serious concerns about changes to their parking permits in Gloucester and Cheltenham by Gloucestershire County Council.

Blood pressure began to rise when letters landed last week announcing a change to the permit scheme - which until now have been used by businesses to allow them to park within pre-agreed zones all day for an annual fee.

Many firms have just coughed up their £250 per permit fee only to pick up the letter to learn they would only be able to park individual vehicles for up to four hours at a time and a failure to comply will result in fines.

In an effort to clarify they have rushed first to the county council, but to a man appear to have failed to reach anyone who can enlighten them, and then turned to Punchline-Gloucester.com.

Punchline also spoke to Gloucester Bid and Cheltenham Bid. Both said they would be contacting the council on behalf of their 1,000-plus members to voice their concerns.

Nigel Robinson, director of iconnet, Friars Court, College Street, Gloucester, said he had spent the "best part of an hour" trying to get through to the county council - with no joy.

"The letter 'Business Permit Scheme' isn't very clearly written and some would say deliberately confusing.

"Add in the fact there's been no consultation about this especially during our recent permit renewal earlier this month 11th October and not even a leaflet to guide you through the processes.

"However, the council were very keen to say 'that the business permit was for visitors attending your business to make a delivery or attending a meeting and that the 'business permit' was not to be used as a staff parking permit as set out in their T&C's'."

He added: "This is the type of small-minded money grabbing council policy that will lead to businesses taking a view . . . 'relocation springs to mind'.

"Ecclesiastical Insurance are heading to a business park in Brockworth with staff parking, how many ££'s will be lost to the city centre shops once this company leaves."

Sean Dougall, of Home Business Marketing, said: "This 'parking scheme"' has been dreamt up as another panic measure to fill the coffers, rather than a properly thought-out plan to HELP the growth of the city/town centres.

"If they could see past the end of their noses, they would realise that economic growth will build income in the future, the policy of crippling business is a result of the 'here today, gone tomorrow' attitude of these individuals."

Simon Baldwin, site director, The Warehouse: "I read your article in the Punchline today and am pleased to see I am not the only business up in arms about this ill thought out policy change by Gloucestershire council.

"I have been in correspondence this week, first on the phone and then by email but at the moment no one is bothered how this effects my business or interested in offering any suggestion of a solution."

"The Warehouse Indoor Climbing and Caving Centre on Parliament street also provides Mobile Climbing and Caving equipment. We have parked two of our vehicles in Brunswick square since 2001 and have always bought two permits each year.

"I have pointed out that having vehicles based close to the office is essential for us as we are to-ing and fro-ing often most days in the summer and the vehicles are not allocated to any one driver so the permits are not for staff use and definitely for operational purposes.

"If we can't park our pool vehicles near where the staff are based I can't see how we can continue operating as we do at the moment."

Tony Mitchell, director of Cranfield Business Recovery, at The Coach House Annexe, Wellington Lane, Cheltenham, said: "Is it really surprising that there was nobody available from the council to justify this new policy."

Paul Scott, of Scott Financial Consultants, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, said: "I, like many others, have just received the letter regarding business parking permits and have been emailing the council as it is impossible to actually speak to anybody there.

"They have referred me to the terms and conditions of the permit scheme, which they have never shown me in five years of paying for an annual permit.

"In my email to the Council I have pointed out that this means that they are not parking permits at all and asked them why any business would pay £250 per annum just to load and unload?

"So, it is not even just a question of it being totally impractical to reactivate the permit every 4 hours but is a great deal worse than that."

He added: "I rang the council and asked to speak with Jim Daniels, the parking manager, and was told that they could find no record of anyone by that name!"

More than one business made the point that whatever the council might think the terms and conditions are, a defacto contract existed and they pointed out the council would be open to the change of breaking a defacto contract.

A statement from music shop Soundhouse in St Aldate Street, Gloucester, said: "Just thought I would mention that in a town near where we live, Witney, Oxfordshire they have a scheme through their council.

"They provide a minimum of two hours free parking and the town is heaving constantly! No matter what day of the week it is, town is always packed and the businesses are doing really well!

"Seems backwards that the council here in Gloucester is always trying to promote small and independent businesses and the city centre whilst charging people through the nose to park here.

"Then having the large free car parks next to the retail parks? Why not try giving it a go and then seeing the rewards of locals shopping in the city centre? Just an idea!"

And this is not all of the comments we have received.

When we contacted the county council again today they acknowledged there was an issue and that as a result of the furore a meeting was due to take place this afternoon. No new statement was available.

No contact email or number was available for us to pass on to businesses.