There were fears that strict parking controls at the town's two large retail parks would drive firms away because employees had nowhere to park.

At an executive meeting of Havant Borough Council last night members agreed to take on parking enforcement in Central Retail Park, Park Road South, which is home to Wickes and Aldi. This means a three-hour limit on parking, forcing town centre workers to find somewhere else to park.

In nearby Solent Retail Park private company Parking Eye uses cameras to police the car park and impose a strict two-hour limit.

The limited parking would mean workers in the town having no choice but to clog up residential streets around the town centre – which are also being considered for residents-only parking. But now bosses of the nearby Meridian Centre car parks have agreed with the council – which is the landlord – to extend their opening hours by six hours from April 1. Opening will soon be from 6am to 9pm rather than 9am to 6pm.

Mike Dyer, director of Dyer Burdett and Co solicitors in West Street, objected to plans for parking enforcement in Central Retail Park, fearing it would drive businesses away from the town centre.

He had been lobbying the council for extended opening hours at the Meridian Centre car parks for over a year since the loss of hundreds of spaces when the Potash Terrace car park was lost.

Mr Dyer, whose firm has been based in the town centre for 25 years, said: 'It's a long time coming and it's a pity it has taken this long.

'It is reassuring to know they are finally doing it. Assuming that the council means what it says, then I'm delighted.'