FRUSTRATED Devizes town councillors are to ask highways boss Philip Whitehead to attend a meeting to explain in person what a report on free parking allocation really means.

Members of the town's planning committee became more and more confused as they tried to unravel Wiltshire Council's plans for if and when event organisers should have to pay if they use car parking spots for stalls.

Problems originally arose when organisers of Devizes Food and Drink Festival were worried they would have to pay to use the Market Place in May even though parking is free in this area.

Originally Mr Whitehead, who is Wiltshire's cabinet member for highways, could not reassure them but last month he said the festival would be exempt of any charge.

Now Wiltshire Council has started to consult with towns and parishes over charging of parking spaces for carnivals, fairs and festivals.

But the report did not make easy reading for Devizes councillors on Tuesday evening. Coun Andy Geddes said that even with 40 years experience in local government he could not make head nor tail of the report.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: "We have consulted with all of the towns and relevant parishes about the distribution of parking spaces and will be releasing a policy update soon."