A LONG-standing member of the community fears that lofty parking restriction signs hidden by decorative foliage could cause put visitors off returning to Royal Wootton Bassett.

Resident Vivien Blackmore was shocked to discover a parking warden issuing tickets to cars parked along the north-bound side of the town’s high street, including tourists that she later spoke with, who were also unaware of any restrictions where they had parked.

She said: “It was the first time I had seen a parking officer from the council putting tickets on the windows.

"I asked him why he was issuing the tickets and he said there was a two hour restriction which was news to me and I have lived in Bassett for 40 years.

"I have never seen the signs and I go into the town centre five times a week.

“On the south-bound side of the road there are signs you can see, but I hadn’t been aware of them on the north-bound side.”

Intrigued, she investigated further: “I wandered up to the traffic lights from the town hall and I thought, I can’t see any signs.

"Then, looking up, several feet up in the air stuffed up under the flower displays was the sign. There are three of them.

“Don’t get me wrong, the hanging flower displays are excellent, but the signs are not prominent, I always thought they had to be seven or eight feet off the ground – those are certainly not within eye shot.

“I enquired with people walking down the high street and they said to me ‘what signs?’. They knew about the ones on the opposite side of the road, but not these ones.

“At the same time a couple returned to their car and I said to them – because they had a ticket – were they aware, and they said they hadn’t seen the signs either. They had come into Bassett sight-seeing, they had had a meal and returned to their car and were presented with a parking ticket on their windscreen.

“It is going to put people off coming into the town, if you charge too much you are not going to have any trade.

“I spoke to the parish council and they said they would get the groundswork team to come out and look at it.

“I just feel so sorry for the people who got tickets and were so unaware.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said the parking restrictions were not a new addition to the high street.

"These parking restrictions have been in place since 2009, however if anyone wishes to contest a penalty charge notice, they do have the right to do so," he said.