Marlborough free parking could become permit-only after floods

Kennet Place roadside in Marlborough has been a popular parking spot for those wanting to avoid the cost of the nearby Kennet Place pay and display car park.

But the road, which sits on the edge of the River Kennet, became victim to unprecedented flooding on January 5, 2023, which left residents on the street being carried out of their homes on rafts.

The flood devastation destroyed homes and businesses in Kennet Place, forcing residents to move out while water was pumped out of their houses and flooring stripped bare.

Many residents have been told that it may be up to a year before they will be able to live in their homes again.

"My little cottage has been completely stripped of its carpets and there's a lot of water damage that I imagine will take a long time to repair," said Val Compton, of Kennet Place, who is having to stay with her daughter and son-in-law for the foreseeable future.

"We really need people to not keep parking on our road because it's only a small road and we need the space for the people helping repair our homes to get their vans and equipment in."

Val's cottage has been almost completely stripped of its contents after floods swept through the house. (Image: Newsquest)Kennet Place, a previous parking spot, was filled with sodden household furniture in the days after the flood. (Image: Newsquest)

Residents like Val have been requesting that parking restrictions on the road be changed for several years, and Wiltshire Council has now proposed to change parking restrictions on Kennet Place to remove ‘no waiting’ signs and make sections of the road ‘resident permit-holders only’.

The proposal, being supported by Marlborough Town Council, has now been opened for public consultation, and locals will have until February 19 to have their say.

The proposed changes include:

• To remove No Waiting at any time and No Waiting Monday to Saturday restrictions on key sections of the road.
• To introduce Resident Permit Holders-only restrictions on sections of the road.

The full details and breakdown of which parts of the road these changes will affect can be viewed on the Wiltshire Council website, where comments can be made.

“Deposit copies of the order, plan and statement of the council’s reasons for proposing to make the order may be inspected at the offices of Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge during normal office hours,” said a spokesperson for Marlborough Town Council.

“Details of the proposed scheme may be seen at Marlborough Library during the hours of 2pm to 7pm Monday, 9.30am to 5pm Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am to 7pm Thursday and 9.30am to 1pm Saturday until 19th February 2024.”