Law firm backs parking campaign (From This Is Wiltshire)

Law firm backs parking campaign

10:12am Friday 16th May 2008

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A TROWBRIDGE law firm has joined the campaign to give workers of west Wiltshire towns a better parking deal.

Solicitors Sylvester Mackett in Castle Street, Trowbridge, has leant its support to The Price Ain't Right campaign launched by the Wiltshire Times last week.

Backed by the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce we are campaigning to get affordable parking for the thousands of people who work in Trowbridge and the other four towns each and every day.

Jonathan Frayling, of Sylvester Mackett is backing the campaign, which he believes will help many people.

He said: "We have 40 staff here at the firm, most of which park in the town when they come to work.

"Currently they use the free multi-storey car park but when that closes for refurbishment and parking control is passed over to West Wiltshire District Council there will be a severe shortage of places to park and if you do manage to get a space it will be expensive.

"If you have to find up to £60 a month to pay for parking just so that you can get to work then the vital workers who keep Trowbridge going will be hit and the town will suffer."

The campaign is pushing for affordable annual permits for employees and the adequate provision of spaces.

Mr Frayling said: "There is no doubt this will put a strain on the workers of Trowbridge and the demographic that will be most severely hit will be the low earners.

"Salaries are set in this town and are not going to go up and this is going to hit people straight in the wallet. We are not asking for anything unrealistic, just affordable permits and spaces to use them in.

"If you put a strain on the finances of the very people you depend upon to keep the town going then Trowbridge will suffer."

The Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce is conducting separate discussions with West Wiltshire District Council and is not part of the campaign drive.

Residents in Bradford on Avon are also concerned.

Barbara Humble, of Woolley Street, said: "Those who will suffer most will be the residents in the five town centres who have no off-street parking.

"Although, some people will be able to pay for space in nearby car parks, in many areas this facility is just not available."

You can sign our online petition calling for a fairer deal on parking prices for workers in west Wiltshire by visiting www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk Petitions have also been distributed throughout Trowbridge.

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