Over the past decade, a period in which Marlborough has grown considerably, available on street parking has already shrunk to a worryingly low level.

While I appreciate that there are some issues of inappropriate parking in obstructive or dangerous positions, the scale of measures put forward by Wiltshire Council brings to mind the expression of cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer!

Marlborough is a town of some 8,000 people, most whom depend on motor transport for their livelihood. Much as it is desirable to minimize the impact of the motor car, the town is not well served with either comprehensive services, including public transport, nor amenities.

A large number of the relatively more affordable houses are from a period that did not provide for off-street parking and householders are unlikely to be able to afford current parking rates.

Any new builds have invariably provided less parking provision than the vehicles they have introduced to the town!

The town needs shops, services, amenities and light industry and is a net importer of workers to fulfill this vital service.

A large percentage of these workers are of low or medium income and their parking needs have to be satisfied to ensure a healthy town.

At present people just about manage to get by with a great deal of effort, but further restrictions could make the situation critical.

This would not at first affect the more affluent residents, but the knock on effect to the community would eventually affect them too.

It is obviously not in the interest of any parties that residents or workers should be using the dedicated short-term parking as this is needed for shoppers.

It seems that in placing further parking restrictions in a town which clearly has big problems, the utmost consideration should be taken into account of those who live and contribute towards the town. Is there a case for fuller consultation – or may be a residents parking scheme.

It is not really satisfactory that the objections of a small number of potentially ‘nimby-minded’ objectors yet again outweighs the interests of the majority.

John Sumner.