FREE car parking spaces in Devizes Market Place were coned off for several hours for an event that never happened.

Wiltshire Council put a sign up to say the spaces outside the Bear Hotel were reserved for the Wiltshire Warm and Well scheme from 7am to 3pm last Thursday but no one turned up from the scheme.

One motorist who parked their car in one of the spaces received a fine.

At 1pm the cones were moved by Wiltshire Council and motorists were again allowed to park there.

Judy Coom, who runs the flea market in the Corn Exchange on market day, was appalled that the spaces were empty on a busy market day.

She said: “It was ridiculous being empty and not being used. Market day is such a busy day and every parking space in the town is critical, especially for people who can’t walk far. It was a waste of parking space for the town.”

The Warm and Well scheme is funded by Wiltshire Council and managed independently for the Energy Saving Trust by the Severn Wye Energy Agency. It was due to bring a trailer where information about saving energy would be displayed.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said there was a breakdown in communication.

He said: “The event was cancelled but the message did not get through to us. Because of the particular circumstances we would encourage the person who received the parking ticket to appeal the decision. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are making sure that if spaces are reserved for a promotional trailer which is then unable to attend the spaces are freed up as quickly as possible.”