Waitrose is set to take control of Marlborough's largest car park from Wiltshire Council.
The 170-space car park is to the rear of the supermarket on Marlborough High Street. It is connected to the 162-space George Lane car park by a bridge.
Although the land is owned by Waitrose, Wiltshire Council has managed the car park for decades.
Now, it seems, that arrangement could soon be over.
Buried inside discussion documents about new charges for parking in Wiltshire Council car parks is a line that shows a financial loss of revenue to the council of £197,000 between 2026 and 2028.
Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: “Waitrose has informed us that it will be taking the Hilliers Yard car park in Marlborough back under its control.
"We estimate that this will cause an annual reduction in revenue of around £197,000, but we have factored this into our Parking Plan and our review of parking tariffs."
Waitrose has been contacted for comment on its future plans for the car park.
The retailer this week refused to say what its plans for the car park are.
A spokesperson for Waitrose owner John Lewis Partnership said: "We are in conversation with the council about the management of the car park to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers.
"However, at this time, the council continues to operate the car park as normal."
Read more
Huge increases in parking charges set as free day scrapped
The full list of car parks set to be hit with huge price increases
Car park rises challenged as council told they 'are not cash cow'
Waitrose opened its store at 17 High Street, Marlborough in 1977 in the town's former 500-seat cinema.
In 2001 a major expansion saw it double in size from 12,000 sq ft to 24,000 sq ft.
The expansion took place under the leadership of Alan Martin, who had been store manager since it opened.
In 2015, Hillier's Yard was changed from a long-stay to a short-stay car park, with a maximum of three hours' parking allowed.
Wiltshire Council is currently looking to introduce an increase in parking charges across the county, including Hiller's Yard, where an hour's parking will increase in price from 80p to £1.
The council also wants to extend the chargeable hours at its car parks from 8m-6pm to 7am-7pm, and to bring Sunday parking charges in line with the rest of the week.
The increases - the first since 2022 - are currently working their way through the council's scrutiny stages having been signed off by cabinet. Full council will get the final say.
Share