SHOPPERS and retailers could be offered a sweetener to help tide them over during the construction chaos which the Western Sector Development will create.

Councillors discussed the possibility of dropping parking charges at Newlands car park between 10am and 12pm on Saturdays at a meeting of Wycombe District Council on Monday.

They want to appease residents for the loss of the 500 spaces in Bridge Street car park.

It is not known when construction will begin but Cllr Alex Collingwood (Con, Marlow North) told the Bucks Free Press last week that he hoped the scheme would be completed by Easter 2003.

Cllr Ted Collins (Lab, Booker and Castlefield) said: ' There will be difficult times for shoppers and traders during the construction period and that is likely to last for two years. It will be a major period of upheaval in the town.

'We want the shoppers to continue to come and there will be difficult times if we don't give them assistance.

'There will be a pot of gold at the end of the period.'

Cllr Clare Martens (Lab, Marsh and Micklefield) said: 'I think this would be some small measure, which both in terms of shopkeepers and shoppers, something we could say, 'we have thought about you and we really do care and understand the difficulties this is going to cause.'

'We believe the end result is going to be worthwhile.'

The decision on suspending the charges was referred to the planning, transport and environment committee which will discuss the issue on September 18.