Car park free until Christmas

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Wednesday 12th Dec 2007.

FEARS the Cross Hayes car park in Malmesbury would not be free to use during the two weekends in the run up to Christmas have been allayed.

North Wiltshire District Council announced last week it was scrapping charges in its car parks this weekend and next weekend.

However, it failed to mention that the Cross Hayes car park was not included in the scheme.

As it is officially situated on a highway, it is owned by Wiltshire County Council.

The district council collects the money for them, but the county sets the charges.

However, the link on the district council website of car parks where there would be no charges featured Cross Hayes.

Situated next to the town hall, it is the most central car park in Malmesbury and has 120 spaces.

The only other main car park in the town is at Station Yard, which has 132 spaces on offer.

Realising it would not be included, district and county councillors have been negotiating to remove the charges for each weekend.

District and county councillor Toby Sturgis said this week he was pleased to announce the situation had been resolved and there would be no charges on either weekend.

Ray Sanderson, president of the town's chamber of commerce, said he was thrilled shoppers would be able to park for free in the town centre in the run up to Christmas.

"It has all been sorted and I am absolutely over the moon that it has been resolved," he said.

Mr Sanderson added the situation would hopefully be sorted out sooner if the same scheme is run by the council next year.

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