LAST year a festive row over Marlborough's traditional High Street Christmas tree threatened to put a dampener on Yule tide celebrations and this year has almost ended in tears once again.

Wiltshire councillor Philip Whitehead said this week that he has had to give Marlborough an extra allocation of free parking spaces so the town's Rotary Club can have its tree in its usual place without having to pay.

He said: "We had all of this last year and so to solve it we gave each town an allocation of free parking spaces that they could give to organisations as they wished.

"But they didn't save any for the Christmas tree so I have had to step in to save the day."

Town clerk Shelley Parker agreed there had been an issue but said the Marlborough and District Rotary Club had not applied in advance for any spaces. She said: "We were given 1,000 free spaces by Wiltshire Council which we are happy with. We asked traders what they wanted to happen and they voted for a day of free parking on November 19 which is the day after the Christmas light switch-on.

"We also gave spaces in the High Street for the Mop Fairs and some other events so our allocation was used up. But we want to make sure this will not happen again and spaces for next year's Christmas tree will be discussed at a meeting on Monday."

But Geoff Oades from the Rotary Club said the solution for this year had only been reached after long and drawn out discussions. He said: "Rotary has been in lengthy, procrastinated and very frustrating negotiations with Wiltshire County Council and Marlborough Town Council over where the Christmas Tree could be sited. We have just reached a deal which is valid for this year only."

Last year the Christmas tree issue in Marlborough highlighted a new strategy by Wiltshire Council over the use of parking spaces for community events.

Previously charity and community groups had been allowed to use parking areas free of charge but last year Coun Whitehead, who is charge or roads and parking, announced a change which meant all spaces would have to be paid for on a daily rate.

But after an outcry it was agreed that each town would receive a number of free spaces every year and it would down to town and parish councils to allocate them.