Empty parking spaces in Wiltshire after parking regulations come into force

Two car parks in Trowbridge were photographed with a small number of cars in them after parking regulations came into force.

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

Bays were empty on the two-hour-lower levels of the multi-story building last week after 31 vehicles were ticketed during the week.

The multi-storey building has 446 spaces on seven levels, including 11 spaces for disabled drivers with a blue badge.

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

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

However, Wiltshire Council denied it had launched the recent crackdown.

Until last week, the city council had issued only 26 fines for the entire year, and then a further 31 drivers were fined, bringing the total to 57 this year.

Leader of Wiltshire Council, Councilor Richard Clewer, said: “No enforcement action has been taken at St Stephen’s Place multi-storey car park.

“On Tuesday, routine inspection patrols were carried out and a number of penalty notices were issued to people who exceeded the free parking limit or parked in two bays, bringing the total number of tickets issued since the beginning of this calendar year to 57.

“Two officers were patrolling the area while training a new member of staff.

“We are enforcing a two-hour free parking ban in this car park to support local retailers and ensure that people visiting Trowbridge to shop can find a parking space.”

Lots of space available on Tuesday afternoon at St Stephen’s Place theme park opposite high-rise Trowbridge (Photo: Trevor Porter)

Photos taken on Tuesday, October 1, above the road, showed a similar situation, with a large number of empty parking spaces.

The private car park’s operator, UK Parking Control, has installed ANPR cameras, a new ticket machine and signage.

The car park was recently bought by French company Iroko Zen for £11.37 million in August, around the same time as UKPC tightened parking regulations. It is not known whether they are related.

Drivers who leave the theme park premises while their vehicle remains parked face fines and will reportedly later receive a parking fee notice stating that the area is “intended for customer parking only.”

The UKPC signs at St Stephen’s Place theme park do not indicate that it is a “customers only car park”. (Photo: Trevor Porter)

The parking lot is managed by the British Parking Inspectorate, which has not commented on this matter yet. The site is managed by Bristol-based commercial property agents Knight Frank, who asked our reporter to contact UKPC for comment.