Residents living near a lorry park in Melksham say they are still having to endure the problem of drivers peering into their homes and the smell of urine and engine fumes.

People living in Spa Court raised their concerns about articulated lorries parking overnight in the King Street car park, just inches from their back garden, at a Melksham Town Council meeting earlier this year.

They said they could no longer bear the noise, smells and the lack of privacy, leading town councillors to vote in favour of writing to Wiltshire Council and asking for the lorry park to be closed.

Since then, residents say nothing has changed and Wiltshire Council has confirmed it will only shut the car park off to lorries when an alternative is found.

Mary Howard, 67, who has lived in Spa Court for the past three years, said she has been plagued by problems including drivers looking into her home from their lorry cabs and engines running throughout the night.

She has stopped walking her dog Toby in the car park, as he was often left covered in human waste as it is regularly used as a toilet.

Speaking this week, she said: “We understand that something is not going to be done overnight, we can’t ask the impossible.

“But we are dreading the summer when we are not going to be able to have our windows open, despite stifling heat.

“We don’t blame the drivers, we know they have to have somewhere to go, but the situation is not helping the people in the area.

“We are really hoping and praying that they find an alternative location for the drivers to go.”

Katherine Austin, 67, who has lived in Spa Court for nearly 14 years, agreed with her neighbour and said she was very disappointed that nothing had happened and that no action had been taken so far.

She said: “We hope the council find something as soon as they can as we don’t want the issue hanging over our heads.

“This is why we pay council tax. I know it is early days and we don’t expect them to have sorted it all out already, but I would like to think something will come to fruition soon.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: “We are aware that the former district council allocated this section of the car park for parking by lorries, but we also are aware that this is causing concerns with local residents.

“The long-term solution is to find an alternative site in the local area, and this is being investigated, but proving difficult in the short term.

“In the meantime, as far as we can, we will be making sure the site is used as intended, and we will ensure the lighting, litter and other issues are dealt with when they arise.”