Possible new car park could hold key to Cricklade's future. (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Possible new car park could hold key to Cricklade's future.

A POSSIBLE site for a new car park which could help boost business and encourage more shoppers to Cricklade has been found.

Mark Ingle, landlord at the Vale Hotel in the High Street, has bought a piece of land large enough to accomodate around 30 car parking spaces behind the hotel in Bath Road.

His intention is to lease the land to the town council on a yearly basis for use as a public car park subject to planning permission being granted and rights of access to the land being approved.

The proposals would also be subject to approval by Cricklade town council and North Wiltshire District Council.

A spokesman for the town council, said: "The one thing we really need in this town is a new car park to help boost trade and encourage more visitors.

"But what the town council will first need to see is a written proposal by Mr Ingle and then if town councillors approve the plans we will have to work with the district council to try and take it forward."

Last year the town council was involved in a dispute with the Vale of White Horse Club over the right of access to a piece of land it owns off the High Street.

The VWH club, which currently owns the right of access onto the land, said they did not want a new car park to be built there.

North Wiltshire District Council had offered a £10,000 grant to kick start the project but no agreement has been reached between the town council and the VWH club.

Mr Ingle, 37, who has run the Vale Hotel with partner Cherise Hutchinson, 27, for a year, has hopes to open a new restaurant soon and says providing space for extra car parking in the town would be beneficial to everyone.

He said: "Obviously the proposal is still in its early stages but I would like to sit down with members of the town council to see if they like the idea and then hopefully take things from there."