Residents in row over parking spaces at Courtfield House in Trowbridge

Residents living near the Courtfield House development are at odds with the company responsible over an access road nearby.

Ashford Homes (South Western) Ltd says it has ‘rights of way’ over land at Court Mills, in Polebarn Road, to move two parking spaces to widen the access road for its development.

The two parking spaces at the centre of the row to widen the access road to Courtfield House (Image: John Baker)

But one resident, Paul Phillips, has written to his local ward councillor, Trowbridge Town Council leader Stewart Palmen, asking for his help as a “matter of urgency”.

He said: “I have received a letter giving less than 48 hours’ notice from Ashford Homes of a required response following their claimed (we have had only 1 meeting) ‘lengthy discussions’.

“They have also stated they reserve the right to claim damages if I obstruct their right of way by parking in my parking space, which is on my deeds. Their stance has been perceived as inflammatory and non-cooperative throughout this process.

“I don’t even have the right to sign over the green land, or change the topography as it is part of Court Mills Management Company. They know this and have not even engaged with other residents that have parking spaces on their deeds that will have to be moved.”

Work to convert the historic Courtfield House has been ongoing since earlier this year. Photo: Trevor Porter 69675-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Ashford Homes, of Bradford on Avon, is converting the Grade II* listed Courtfield House into four apartments and building 16 new homes at the rear. It wants to widen the single carriageway to enable a wider access for future occupiers of the new homes. This means moving two parking spaces.

Ashford Homes wants to move two parking spaces to widen the access road to properties at the rear of Courtfield House. Photo: Trevor Porter 69690-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Tom Griffiths, development director of Ashford Homes, said: “Ashford Homes purchased Courtfield House with unequivocal legal access rights over the shared road to Court Mills which was subsequently acquired by another developer to convert to residential properties.

“The Court Mills developer’s proposals included the provision of parking bays and the imposition of a one-way loop over our right of way.

“After bringing the issue to their attention, the Court Mills developer commissioned an independent survey of the shared access which very clearly concluded that the new parking bays obstructed our legal right of way; however, the developer ignored the contents of the report, constructed the parking bays anyway, and subsequently sold the completed properties.

“Following extensive discussions with Wiltshire Council, a revised shared access was approved to ensure the minimum possible impact on the new parking bays, resulting in the need to relocate two of the spaces by just under 1m to allow the creation of a passing bay.

“We have engaged in correspondence and met with the residents of Court Mills over the past two years to in an attempt to explain and resolve the issue.

“Furthermore, we have offered to resurface six parking bays which are in poor condition, provide proportional funding towards the ongoing upkeep of the shared road, and regularise the position legally to ensure that there aren’t any barriers which might prevent the onward sale of the Court Mills properties in the future.

“In the absence of any meaningful response, and given the length of time during which this matter has been ongoing, we have been left with no choice but commence proceedings to reinstate our lawful right of way which has been compromised through no fault of our own.”