FRUSTRATED motorists are fed up with the parking ticket machines in Marlborough High Street being out of order.

Two of the four meters have been out of use and hidden under yellow bags for the past month leaving drivers, at times, having to walk half the High Street to get to the next one.

It comes at the height of the tourist season and is causing confusion to those not familiar with the area, unsure whether they even need a ticket. Several businesses in the High Street have noticed more people coming in confused over whether they have to pay for parking.

In June, the Gazette asked Wiltshire Council why the machines were not working and within days they replied to say they had been fixed. However, for the past few weeks they have been out of use again.

Two parking machines in the George Lane car park and Hillier's Yard car park at the back of Waitrose are also out of order.

Terry Edwards, 67, who lives in Manton, drives through the High Street nearly every day and after complaining to the council several weeks ago, he is suspicious as to what the hold-up is in getting them repaired.

The retired builder said: “It’s bad enough trying to find a parking space in the town, let alone having to walk half the High Street to find a working ticket machine.

“Half of them are not working and I know people will say there are other car parks at the back of Waitrose and George Lane, but it’s a nuisance.

“Why am I having to walk past machines that should be working? And why are the council taking so long to fix them?”

Mr Edwards added: “I’ve seen other people roll their eyes and tut when they get to the nearest machine and realise they have to walk from one end to the other to get a ticket, and when it’s pouring with rain it’s ridiculous.

“I just hope people don’t get stung and think because the machines are out of order that parking is free.”

Lynn Hicks, who is a receptionist for solicitors The Merriman Partnership in the High Street, added: “I’ve lost count of the number of clients who have come into the office complaining they have not been able to pay to park.”

Alex Minoudis, president of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, said the issue had been brought to his attention and they were looking into ways to address it.  

"It’s chaotic,” Bob Holman, who runs the Marlborough Food Gallery, added. “We’ve got customers coming into the shop not knowing if they have free parking or have to walk a quarter of a mile to get a ticket or they don’t get change or get the wrong amount back.

“It’s a mess and not very professional.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We apologise that some parking machines seem to be out of order. We will look into this and make sure they are repaired as soon as possible.”