Angry town council takes car park away from CDC (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Angry town council takes car park away from CDC

TETBURY Town Council has fought back against the parking charge saga by serving notice on the local authority and taking over the running of the town's major car park for itself.

The town council approached the Feoffees, who own The Chipping car park, about the possibility of taking control of the site instead of Cotswold District Council.

The Feoffees agreed to the town council's proposal and last week served notice on the district council to say it would no longer be required to run the site.

The Chipping car park will now be run by the town council and the Feoffees in a special partnership, starting in six months' time.

Tetbury's new mayor, Steven Hirst, explained one of the main benefits of The Chipping car park being run by the town council is the revenue from the parking charges will be ploughed back into the Tetbury community.

"We are securing finance for the people of Tetbury," he said. "It will go towards the development of the Rail Yard and other projects in town and proceeds will be kept in Tetbury. We will be controlling a very important facet in the development of the town centre."

Councillor Hirst went on to say the decision to take control of the car park was a community-based choice with the interests of residents in mind.

Although parking charges will probably remain at the current level it is likely the new car park partnership will introduce new deals.

Among the ideas being discussed are park-for-free promotional days and discounts for residents.

Cllr Hirst said the partnership between the town council and the Feoffees was a way of tackling the existing parking charges.

He said: "We were very dismayed when the car parking charges went up without consultation and although they came down we are not sure it will be a permanent thing. So we want to secure permanent, safer parking for the benefit of the people of Tetbury."

A spokesperson for Cotswold District Council said: "As they are entitled to do so under our lease, the Feoffees have given us six months notice to quit the car park.

"However at this stage they haven't told us why and we will be seeking a meeting with them to discuss it further to find out what they are trying to achieve."