THE leaseholder of a flat in Ashmead Court, Trowbridge, has accused Wiltshire Council and Selwood Housing of playing ‘ping pong’ over complaints by residents about a neglected parking area.
Sara Heywood, 42, has been battling for four years to get the local authority and the Trowbridge-based housing association to resolve some of the issues raised by herself and other residents.
“Over the last four years, I have repeatedly reported issues in the area on behalf of the residents here and had a battle of ping-pong between these organisations.
“After countless emails, phone calls, meetings between Selwood and the local town councillors, and even joining the local election in 2021 to try and help push through some much-needed changes, I am still at the same point as I was when first moving here – no real changes or improvements.”
Ms Heywood claims ‘parking wars” have been taking place at Ashmead Court since a disabled parking bay was marked out for one resident, leading to other residents battling for the other spaces.
“What is needed here are white parking lines,” she said. “It really is the small changes that can make a difference.”
Ms Heywood says they also need yellow lines to stop vehicles from parking in a bay where ambulances turn and park, and double yellow lines added on a corner to stop drivers parking on pavements and in an area where vehicles turn.
She also wants the council to repair potholes, resurface the whole area, and then mark out defined parking bays to stop the parking war currently happening.
She says Ashmead Court has been excluded by Wiltshire Council from planned resurfacing works at the end of June in Rutland Crescent and Ashmead Road.
Sara said: “I have reported potholes in the area, which recently were filled as a patch job, thinking that due to these works it would highlight to the council the much-needed resurfacing works required.
“I find it complete madness they haven’t included this area when they are literally working on the doorstep.”
Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We’ve scheduled surface dressing works for the roads adjoining Ashmead Court.
“However, due to the confined nature of Ashmead Court and the high number of turning movement in this area, it is not suitable to be included due to the type of treatment being used.
“We are working on an alternative programme of works for Ashmead Court and these road surface repairs are expected to be carried out within this financial year.”
He added: “Parking in residential streets can often be contentious. When providing discretionary disabled parking bays we conduct a needs assessment and a location review to ensure it is appropriate.
“Unfortunately, parking at this location is not always considerate. At this time, adding additional lines to mark out parking bays is not considered appropriate for this type of location and does not provide any additional enforcement opportunities.”
A Selwood Housing spokesperson added: "‘The car parking area in Ashmead Court is a public road on Wiltshire Council-owned land, which is available for anyone to park on.
"We understand that Wiltshire Council are planning to carry out road surface repairs at Ashmead Court within the financial year."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel