Wiltshire Council officers failed to attend an important meeting to discuss the future of Trowbridge multi-storey car park, it has been revealed.
They didn’t turn up for the meeting on Monday, September 30 in St Stephen’s Place to discuss the car park’s maintenance and future.
Trowbridge Town Council leader Stewart Palmen; town council officers; Kez Garner, chair of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce; Tahir Ali, the owner of Castle Place shopping centre, and Trowbridge Police all showed up for the meeting.
Wiltshire Council parking wardens recently issued 31 penalty charge notices in one week, compared to just 26 for the first nine months of the year.
Despite this the council denied claims that it is clamping down on parking enforcement.
Cllr PaImen said later: “Wiltshire Council Officers, who had confirmed the meeting, failed to attend, which was really frustrating to all those who gave up time for this meeting.
“There has been practically no enforcement of the parking rules over the last decade yet, after we arranged this meeting, enforcement visited. I believe the two things are connected.
“I have strong opinions about the future of this multi-storey and its not-fit-for-purpose condition.”
Kez Garner, of Trowbridge Chamber, said she was still waiting for an explanation from Wiltshire Council for its absence.
She said: “All I can say is there are changes afoot, as everyone knows, with car park ownership in the St Stephen’s Place area.
“What we are doing, as part of Safer Trowbridge, is cracking down on anti-social behaviour, including vandalism, items being thrown from the car park, and drug users etc. We are trying to get some safety for everyone."
Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways, said, "We were invited to a meeting to discuss an improvement plan for St Stephen's car park with the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce.
"Unfortunately, as some of our officers were unable to attend on the date, we advised the chair of the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce of this.
"If another meeting is proposed, we will discuss the date and timing with them to ensure we can attend.
"In the meantime, our enforcement officers will continue to patrol in the car park and enforce the two-hour free parking restriction in place to support the local retailers."
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