Parking regulations enforced in Trowbridge results in empty spaces

Photographers taken by a Wiltshire Times photographer show the Trowbridge multi-storey car park at St Stephen’s Place, and the nearby St Stephen’s Place Leisure Park car park at mid-afternoon on Friday, September 27 and on Tuesday, October 1.

Last week, there were empty bays on the two-hour lower levels at the multi-storey after 31 vehicles were ticketed in a week.

The multi-storey has 446 spaces spread over seven levels, including 11 bays for Blue Badge disability drivers.

It is open 24 hours a day and drivers can park free of charge but only for two hours on the lower levels.

Drivers are starting to avoid parking in the lower two-hour levels at Trowbridge multi-storey car park. (Image: Trevor Porter)

But Wiltshire Council has denied it has launched a recent clampdown.

The council had only handed out 26 penalty charge notices for the whole year up to last week, and then the further ticketed 31 drivers, made a total of 57 so far this year.

Wiltshire Council leader, Cllr Richard Clewer said: “There has been no enforcement clampdown in St Stephen’s Place multi-storey car park.

“Routine enforcement patrols took place on Tuesday and a number of Penalty Charge Notices were issued to people that had exceeded the free parking limit or parked across two bays, bringing the total issued since the start of this calendar year to 57.

"Two enforcement officers were patrolling as a new member of staff was being trained.

“We enforce the two-hour free parking restriction in this car park to support local retailers by ensuring that people visiting Trowbridge to shop can find a parking space.”

Lots of empty spaces available in mid-afternoon on Tuesday at the St Stephen’s Place Leisure Park opposite the Trowbridge multi-storey (Image: Trevor Porter)

Over the road, photographs taken on Tuesday, October 1 showed a similar situation, with plenty of empty parking bays available.

Private car park operator, UK Parking Control, installed ANPR cameras, a new ticket machine and signage.

The car park was recently bought by the French firm Iroko Zen for £11.37 million in August around the same time UKPC more strictly enforced parking regulations. It is not known if they are linked.

Drivers who leave the leisure park site while their vehicle remains parked risk being fined and reportedly later receive parking charge notices saying the site is ‘designated for customer parking only’.

The UKPC signs at St Stephen's Place Leisure Park do not state that it is for 'customer-only parking'. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The car park is managed by UK Parking Control, which has so far failed to comment. The site is managed by commercial estate agents Knight Frank in Bristol, which asked our reporter to contact UKPC for comment.