ANGRY traders are getting up a petition to demand more money is spent on car parks in Malmesbury.

The chamber of commerce wants North Wiltshire District Council to act to solve the growing parking problems in the town.

Traders say those parking in the town contribute a substantial £69,844 to the district council's coffers in charges, and they want more money ploughed back into the town.

They are angry that no cash has been allocated to increase the 269 car parking spaces currently available.

With top tourist attractions such as The Abbey House Gardens attracting three times more visitors than in the previous year, traders say the parking is desperately inadequate.

The district council has agreed the need for more parking in the town is a top priority and said it would be urgently reviewing the situation.

The chamber of commerce is increasingly worried, however, that the shortage of parking spaces is affecting business in the town.

Chairman Alan Woodward said a recent poll had shown that the majority of businesses did not blame Abbey House Gardens for the problem.

He said: "We desperately need more car parking spaces. The district council needs to do something about it soon. This is a problem that won't go away."

He said members had decided to get up a petition to demand action and the chamber would be writing to MP James Gray.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ruth Coleman, who is expected to become leader of the district council, said she took the parking concerns very seriously and would be creating a post to look into roads and transport issues across the district.

"I am aware there is increased concern from people in Malmesbury about parking. We need to look at how we are going to fund improvements. We have a very long list of work that needs to be done across the district."

Cross Hayes is the only pay park in the town where it costs 25p an hour.

There have been a number of solutions put forward over the years to solve the parking shortage.

Meetings between the town, district and county council as well as the chamber of commerce in the last six months have looked at various solutions.

Ideas have included extending the Old Station Yard car park by 50 car parking spaces and introducing charges, and developing the site behind the Old Silk Mills to create a new car park.

The cost of extending the Old Station Yard car park is estimated at £35,000.

Abbey House Gardens owner, Barbara Pollard, who attended the meetings, said she hoped that something would be done soon to increase the number of car parking spaces.

She said: "It is very disappointing that no money will given for more car parking spaces. While I can understand the reticence to put money into a short-term solution, this situation needs to be resolved in the very near future."

Malmesbury county councillor John Thomson has criticised the district council for not reinvesting the money made from parking charges in the town, but Coun Coleman disputed this and said the money raised in parking charges did come back into the community.

She said: "The charges people pay for parking in Malmesbury go back into Malmesbury. They provide the traffic wardens and help maintain the car park.

"As a general rule money made from charges does not cover the cost of maintaining the car park."