CIVIC leaders have vowed to solve Cricklade's parking problems by the end of the year and will force a social club in the town to hand over a key piece of land if that's what it takes.

The Vale of the White Horse club owns the right of access to a site belonging to the town council. The council wants to build a car park for 27 vehicles on the land behind the club to encourage shoppers and tourists to spend time in the town.

North Wiltshire District Council has even allocated £10,000 for the project.

"We hope to come up with the right solution for the town with or without the club's blessing," said Clive Wilce, chairman of Cricklade Town Council.

But the social club next to the site has refused to allow motorists access to the car park across its land.

Now, council leaders want to bring an end to the dispute.

"The lack of a central car park is stopping the town from progressing," Mr Wilce said. "Better parking would ensure the survival of our retail base.

"Many people just travel through the town without stopping to see what we have to offer. A car park would change that."

The town council has drawn up a timetable to resolve the issue. It will hold a meeting with social club members in July or early August.

If the results of the meeting are positive, the council will continue negotiations with the club, otherwise it will arrange a meeting with the wider community in September or October.

If dialogue fails, the council plans to apply for a compulsory purchase order in November.

"This would be a regrettable way forward," Mr Wilce added.

Jim Woods, vice-chairman of the club, said: "This has been an ongoing issue for a number of years.

"I don't think it is the right site for a car park but at the end of the day it will be down to the membership of the club to decide.

"We already have a number of businesses having access and any more would make it a rat run and somebody is going to be injured.

"The club has got some 22 car park spaces, the surgery has 12 parking spaces all of which are full during the normal working day

"The club make no charge on anyone for parking in their car park although some businesses do become member as a thank-you for letting them park all day."

The club sold the land in the 1950s, which was then bequeathed to the council. Older members believe the club had the right to buy back the land if it was ever put on the market.

However, lawyers have found no record of a buyback deal.

Parking in the High Street is free with no waiting limit. Under the new proposals, a two-hour restriction would be imposed on the High Street with permits for homes without off-street parking.

The shortage was made worse by street enhancement works three years ago, which reduced the number of parking spaces in the High Street.

Bhavani Vadde