Parish councillors in one of Wiltshire’s most picturesque villages have warned of “death or serious injury” if car parking charges are imposed.

Wiltshire Council plans to impose charges in the currently free car park at Dunns Lane in Upper Castle Combe Castle which has 91 spaces.

More than 150,000 visitors each year go to the picturesque village, which is one of Wiltshire’s most visited tourist hotspots but regularly becomes gridlocked with traffic.

But parish council chairman Fred Winup and his vice-chairman John Mackelden say drivers trying to avoid the new charges could put the lives of its 270 inhabitants and visitors in danger.

They said: “Visitors typically park in the car park at the top of the hill and walk down the hill into the village below. This hill is a narrow country road with some parking on it and has no pavements. The car park is currently free. 

“Around 10 years ago charges were introduced to the car park, but the proliferation of illegal parking by those wishing to avoid charges caused a dangerous narrowing of the hill and the B4039 at the top of the village.

“There was a risk of pedestrian and car collision on the hill, emergency services / buses could not get to the village and there was a risk of vehicular collision on the B4039. The charges were swiftly removed." 

According to Fred and John, gridlock on the hill can last 30 minutes or more, with a consequent inability of emergency vehicles to access the village centre.

They added: "The last time this occurred, the ambulance had to take a six-mile (17 minute) diversion along narrow country lanes to enter the village from the other end. The danger to life is self-evident. 

 “In 2017 charges were proposed again; the plan was withdrawn at the 11th hour after the risks and prior experience was explained to Wiltshire Council. 

“Wiltshire Council is now proposing introducing charges again and is steamrollering the plan through without any acceptance of previous experience or a proper analysis of the specific, unique aspects of the village and the pedestrian access.

“Even with the car park free of charge we have had many examples of significant levels of illegal parking over the last few year with very little enforcement and the council unwilling even to refresh or clear the double yellow lines." 

They say they have objected "in the strongest terms" to the Council’s Chief Executive Terence Herbert and the Council Leader Cllr Richard Clewer, but say the council chiefs are "adamant" that the Traffic Regulation Order will proceed despite the risks. 

“The last time they proposed an identical TRO, the then Council Leader (now Baroness Jane Scott) intervened to prevent it. Sadly, the current leadership appears to be less flexible. 

“It seems that for a very small monetary return, Wiltshire Council are willing to jeopardise the safety of visitors to a village and its residents whilst having no qualms about using the village to promote Wiltshire in general. It is only a matter of time before we get a death or serious injury due to their course of action", they said. 

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “We agreed to implement charges at Castle Combe car park following the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, which includes a statutory consultation and is fully compliant with the council’s legal obligations.

"The concerns raised by Castle Combe Parish Council were considered as part of this consultation, but as people already park on the roadside on the hill it was felt that the introduction of charges will not increase the danger to pedestrians.  Civil Enforcement Officers will be patrolling the village and issuing PCNs where there are contraventions.

“We will monitor the income and spend at Castle Combe through our normal budget setting processes to ensure forecasts and outcomes are delivered.”