Chippenham car park machines 'severely damaged by vandalism'

Two parking machines were recently vandalised at the Bath Road car park in Chippenham, leaving them significantly damaged and still out of order at the time of writing.

Drivers using the car park have been instructed by signage in place on the machines to use the MiPermit app in the meantime.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, the cabinet member for transport, said: “We are aware that two out of the three pay and display parking machines are currently out of order at Bath Road car park in Chippenham.

“Unfortunately, this is due to the machines being vandalised and severely damaged.”

A lack of working pay and display machines in both the Bath Road and Emery Gate car parks has previously caused frustration for visitors to the town centre.

The broken parking machine in the Bath Road car park, Chippenham (Image: Newsquest)

But the council told this paper that there are plans in place to replace all parking machines across the county, including those at the Bath Road site.

This scheme will be underway “shortly” and will allow motorists to choose between paying for parking by cash, card or phone in all council managed car parks.  

Cllr Thomas added: “A programme to replace all parking machines across the county will be underway shortly.

“Once installed, car park users will be able to make payments using cash, card (either by phone call, text, or Apple and Google Pay) plus the MiPermit app.

“A key benefit of the MiPermit parking app is that it allows payment for parking from any location and users can extend stays without having to go back to their car or car park.

“However, we appreciate not everyone can make use of the app, so all our car parks will also accept the alternative methods of payment.”

The broken parking machine in the Bath Road car park, Chippenham (Image: Newsquest)

Many have repeatedly called for free parking to be introduced in Chippenham to encourage people to spend more time in the town centre.

Last October, resident Chris Burfoot told this paper he and his wife would no longer be visiting the town after attempting to use the Emery Gate car park while the machines were broken.

He claimed the lack of free parking was “hurting the town.”

At the time, town councillors responded by saying that the huge costs of subsidising free parking in a town of Chippenham’s size would make the policy hard to justify.