DEVIZES deputy mayor Albert Wooldridge has said he is prepared to resign from the town council unless action is taken to stop parking by skate boarders in Green Lane.

Mr Wooldridge, who is also allotment manager for Roundway Parish Council, is furious that more has not been done to stop people using the skatepark, which opened in October, from parking cars on the lane.

He said: "Since the skateboard park opened we now have major problems getting to the allotment site. The lane gets full of cars and vans making it dangerous for walkers and allotment holders. At times we can’t even get to the allotments.

"When I first set up the allotment site I was informed that no parking would be allowed within the lane. This meant that we had to put a car park within the allotment site at great expense.

"Yet the town council allows the skate board users to block the lane. This can only get worse when the BMX track opens, we have complained to the town council without any luck.

"This has now got to the stage that is unacceptable. If the town council doesn't listen I may have to resign form the town council."

It is understood that Coun Wooldridge's stance has caused disquiet at the town council and among fellow Guardians, who are the majority party on the town council.

He said: "I have had a few people contact me to say I shouldn't have gone public on this. But I will not be shut up. I feel very strongly about it and if necessary I will resign."

Deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said: "We are aware that on a couple of occasions there have been some car spilling over from layby adjacent the Drews Pond Wood.

"Whilst this is a public right of way, for which we have not control and the layby has always been located where it is, we will looking at how we can inform users of the layby to park courteously and no block the lane for other vehicles.

"We have told Cllr Wooldridge that we will look into his concerns."

It was expected that most youngsters using the skatepark would arrive on their boards or bikes or be dropped off by parents. But the ramps are being used by far more older teens and people in their early 20s who drive to the venue and park in the lane rather than the Green Lane playing field car park.

Nigel Carter, chairman of The Guardians, said: "I think Albert is premature in going public with this rather than waiting and discussing it."

Coun Wooldridge was elected deputy mayor in March and tradition has it that he will become the next mayor. He said: "I was honoured to become deputy mayor but it must not stop me speaking out about issues that I think are important."