THREE more businesses are quitting Bicester town centre, prompting fresh calls for free parking.

In the past few months hair salon Andrea and Achille, butchers Regent’s Meat, both in Crown Walk, and Clark’s shoe shop in Sheep Street have closed.

Now clothing store Bicester Boutique in Market Square, Eldridge Growers in Sheep Street, and the Little Italy cafe in Crown Walk have announced they will all close by June.

The move has prompted opposition councillors to attack Conservative-run Cherwell District Council over its plans to increase parking fees from April 4.

They want to see free parking in the town while the town centre redevelopment, which will include a supermarket, cinema and shops, takes place.

Sandra Pantanella, 43, has been running Little Italy for almost five years, but will close next Friday.

She said: “Basically all the building going on has killed my business off.”

She said the closure of Crown Walk car park to accommodate builders’ offices for the redevelopment had hit takings. She added: “The rates are diabolical.

“The parking charges are going up when there’s nothing for people to come into Bicester for.”

Arthur Eldridge, who has run Eldridge Growers for six years, had hoped for “a miracle” but trade has not picked up and he will close on April 2.

He said: “People are not coming in Bicester.

“Parking doesn’t help, but also there aren’t any decent shops.”

Bicester Boutique owner Barbara Fairweather, who said she might set up elsewhere, called for a parking amnesty while the town centre redevelopment took place.

News of the closures has been offset by budget supermarket Lidl opening in the town and a bridal shop, Butterflies, setting up for business in The Causeway.

Labour leader Les Sibley joined calls for free parking.

He said: “It would send out the right message that we want people to come into our town centre.”

Liberal Democrat leader Nick cotter said bosses had shown “crass disregard for the legitimate concerns of local businesses” and should ask residents what they wanted.

Norman Bolster, Cherwell's portfolio holder for economic development and estates, ruled out free parking, but said the council was working to improve the town centre.

l Earlier this week we revealed five members of Cherwell’s executive have free parking permits to use in council run car parks when on council business, along with 186 staff.