MORE people have called for action to tackle the parking problem in Cirencester, after traders said the issue could force them to move their businesses elsewhere.

Last month, both Tom Wharton of tailor Barrington Ayre and Oli Christie of mobile app company Neon Play told the Standard they may have to relocate their businesses outside of Cirencester town centre because of a lack of parking.

Now the founder of Steppes Travel, Nick Laing, has added his support to their calls for Cotswold District Council (CDC) to improve the situation.

“It’s a really serious problem,” he said. “At the west end of town where we are, the Old Station car park and Sheep Street car park are both full by 8.30am.

“If we have a meeting and go away, when we come back we can’t find a space. It’s an absolute nightmare.

“When you think of all these houses that have been built, where is the new parking?”

One of his colleagues at Steppes Travel, Andrew Levens, who lives in Ashton Keynes, said his wife is often put off shopping in Cirencester because of the shortage of parking spaces, and he fears visitors from out of town could be driven away.

“The current situation favours locals, who know the best places and times to look for spaces," he said. "I’ve been stopped a couple of times by strangers to the town asking where to park. So currently there is a feeling of exclusivity for those of us who know the place.”

Stratton resident David Reid believes building multi-storey car parks is the answer. He said: “The Forum and/or The Waterloo would make ideal sites."

Another Cirencester resident, 50-year-old Esther Boughton, said: “I have stopped coming into Cirencester as often."

Sarah Lincoln, 46, from Coates, added: “I avoid popping into the centre as you can’t really park in the high street. If I come in for a couple of things then it’s worth the effort to park but if I’m going grocery shopping then I go to a supermarket. So, I guess the high street traders must be missing out.”

Darren Tanner, 35, from Cirencester, also bemoaned the parking problem, calling it a "pain".

A spokesman for CDC said the council would be “addressing” the lack of parking spaces through its Local Plan – a development blueprint for the Cotswolds – and its long-term parking strategy.