PARKING - will it be a nightmare or a doddle when Wycombe's longed-for Eden shopping centre opens next month? The new stores are here, the town is buzzing with anticipation, but will 1,000 extra parking spaces be enough to draw shoppers away from competing attractions such as The Oracle in Reading and The Harlequin Centre in Watford?

Commercial agents' main concern is how Wycombe's 21st century shopping quarter will be rated by the business fraternity in the South East.

The future economy of the town rides on the success of the multi-million pound regeneration scheme. Those whose job it is to sell business space in Wycombe say the size of our public car parks could be the deciding factor.

"Get it wrong," maintains Stupples director Michael Garvey, "and we could have killed the goose before it has laid a golden egg.

"I believe shoppers from outside the area will drive into Wycombe to shop at Eden, but if they can't find a parking space on their first visit, they could go away and never come back.

"I think we've got one chance to win over people from other towns. Families within the district could take the same view.

"There's excitement at the prospect of the opening of Eden but it will evaporate if they drive in and can't park."

Jeff Willmore, the council's head of communications, is confident the months and years of planning will pay off. He says the council's estimate of an extra 1,000 parking spaces is only part of the calculation.

"Some of our car parks in the past were 40 per cent under used at peak times.

"People don't just want capacity, they want it where they want to be," he insists.

"Those who come for food shopping at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons will be able to use the on-site car parks.

"In the future they will be sited where people want them so the previously vacant spaces will be used."

The council's chief executive Karen Satterford, who walks to work when she doesn't have an outside appointment, recently emailed staff with news that only those who require their cars to carry out their jobs will continue to have a space at the council offices.

She has also decreed that 160 employees will no longer be able to park for free at the council owned Easton Street park although they will still be able to use their passes further away from the town centre in the outer ring car parks.

Town Hall employees who travel in from the Oxfordshire direction are being encouraged to use the Park and Ride service from Cressex which runs buses to and from the town centre at ten minute intervals.

"I live near Oxford and I always use the Park and Ride to get into the city," says Mr Willmore.