Ninety-nine spaces off Rose Street, including three disabled spaces, would no longer be available to be used by the public as part of the Peach Street redevelopment.

Surrounding businesses and a church whose members use the car park have criticised the proposal that is set to be discussed next month.

Nick Thompson, Minister at Wokingham Methodist Church, said: “The council have said that the other car parks are just a few minutes away. That may be true for you or me but not for the disabled.

“We have an awful lot of people with learning or physical disabilities. The council propose to move some of the disabled spaces to Rose Street but it’s where disabled people would be dropped off that concerns us.” The nearest car parks will be at Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, which both have a fee to use. The nearest council car park will be just off Easthampstead Road, near the fire station.

The council is planning to build a new 500-space multi-storey car park at Carnival Pool, half a mile away. The plans for Peach Place suggest replacing the car park with a new pedestrianised square with seating.

Rumours are that businesses will have to pay an annual fee to park at the rear of their premises.

David Shakeshaft, the general manager of Wokingham Medical Centre, said: “The loss of spaces would inevitably impact on patients. For a lot of surgeries, parking is an issue just because there are never enough spaces.

“I don’t know how many patients use that car park, I think some use the one by the fire station.

“Wokingham is very well stocked with surgeries so patients have a range of choices for where to go.” He said some spaces are provided for patients with disabilities at the surgery.

John Wood, owner of John Wood Sports, which has traded in the town for over 40 years, said: “The car park is always busy, you only have to go outside to see that. Where will people park for the doctors’ surgery?” He said footfall in some shops has fallen by 50 per cent in the last decade and he blames the town’s poor car parking provision.

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of Wokingham Borough’s planning committee in early March.