CONCERNS have been raised about a lack of car parking spaces in Amesbury after a piece of land that has been used as an unofficial free car park was reclaimed by a development company.

For several years, up to 60 people per day have parked next to the disused Co-op supermarket in the town centre without paying.

Now the Co-op has put up a sign saying that no vehicles can park on the land, which is being redeveloped as part of a scheme by McCarthy & Stone to build retirement apartments on the site.

The company is developing the derelict Co-op into 32 “later living” properties with car parking, landscaping and retail units at street level.

The sign gave motorists a deadline of last Thursday to stop using the car park and said that any vehicles not removed by December 11 would be towed away.

Motorists who have been parking there now face paying £5.60 a day in the Wiltshire Council car parks, buying a £260 a year season ticket or looking for free parking in nearby residential streets.

“It is an inconvenience,” said James Dales of Avon Security in Salisbury Street.

“We have been using it to park the vans for the past five or six years and now we’ll have to find somewhere else.”

“It had become very well known as a handy free place to park locally, even though it was never an official car park.

“I’m sure it will have a detrimental effect on trade.

Shoppers used it when they popped into town. I’m sure if they opened a free 60-space car park somewhere it would boost trade, and in this situation, when we are losing free spaces, the opposite will be the case.

“On the other hand, hopefully it will be good for Amesbury when the site is developed and people buy the flats and move into the town centre.”

Concerns have been raised that residential roads such as Kitchener Road and Edwards Road, and even parts of the A345 could become choked with parked cars as motorists try to avoid paying charges.

There have also reportedly been more cars using the car park of the town’s other Co-op store.