The scandal of more than 30 unused spaces going begging in one of Wiltshire Council’s car parks in the heart of Marlborough while nearby roads are clogged with vehicles was revealed this week.
Activist Val Compton (pictured), who has completed a survey for Wiltshire in a bid to boost residents’ parking, protested that only four of the 37 places in Kennet Place car park were used daily.
“The rest stand empty,” she told Marlborough town council on Monday. “If Wiltshire were so minded they could probably solve residents’ parking at a stroke.”
And the reason is that businesses refuse to pay “a whacking £1,123” for a yearly parking licence because they can park cheaper in the Waitrose car park and also in Marlborough High Street.
Another result of Wiltshire’s high priced car parking is that spaces near homes are bagged by others on a long-term basis, family cars being “stored” regularly making it impossible for residents in the road to park at all.
Wiltshire councillor Peggy Dow told the town council that she had taken up the issue with Wiltshire officers and was awaiting their response.
And she told Marlborough News Online: “On the occasions I have been in the Kennet Place car park, there were only two cars parked there. It’s a scandalous situation that needs an immediate positive outcome.”
“I have suggested to Wiltshire that either the empty spaces should be made available for residents or perhaps for low-paid workers coming into the town to park.”
“I favour the first suggestion and I am now awaiting for the two council officers I’ve contacted to come back to me. We need to keep up the pressure. I will do all I can to get some changes made.”
Val Compton, who lives in Kennet Place, told Marlborough News Online, that residents from all over the town now “store” their cars in the road, often for weeks at a time, families even “swopping” the six available parking places.
“The premium rate charged by Wiltshire for our car park frankly makes me want to cry,” she declared. “I struggle to keep a car on the road before I even think of parking.”
“If Wiltshire charged us the going residents’ parking rate of around £100, they would have enough takers to see the car properly used.”
“Wiltshire has effectively picked on the least well off people in Marlborough and made life even more of a struggle. At last there is a glimmer of hope now that Peggy Dow has taken on the outrage we feel over an empty car park. Meanwhile, a nice polite request for re-drawing the parking lines in Kennet Place has gone to the council.”
Marlborough News Online is seeking a response from Wiltshire Council.
