Small businesses could be hit by council plans to introduce a new workplace parking levy (WPL).
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has expressed concern that the levy could cost small business owners thousands of pounds each year to provide parking space for employees.
Forum spokesman Chris Gorman said: "In our view, and in the view of our members, it's simply a stealth tax which will have a disproportionate impact on small businesses. It's the equivalent of charging homeowners to park on their own driveways and will increase parking problems in town centres and cities.”
According to the forum the proposed tax would have a disproportionate impact on small businesses which already contribute to public services by paying existing taxes and business rates.
Gorman warned: “Whatever its supposed justifications, the danger is that the WPL could open the floodgates to a raft of new taxes and charges being levied onto companies to pay for things which were previously paid for through general taxation.”
A WPL scheme has already been set up in Nottingham and other towns and cities are set to follow suit.
The forum is calling for businesses to oppose the local authority scheme.
"This proposal comes as small businesses are battling with economic uncertainty, public spending cuts and worrying levels of inflation," Gorman added.