CAR parking chaos could be on the cards if major housing and retail developments are given the go-ahead.

West Wiltshire District Council has drawn up a list of 18 sites in all five main towns that could be used for affordable housing in the future, including the Court Street, Broad Street and Church Street car parks in Trowbridge.

At the same time ongoing development in the St Stephen's Place and Castle Place area of the town could mean the demolition of the town's 440-space multi-storey car park in a £6.5m scheme.

Developer Thiyan Investments wants to provide alternative spaces, but if they become owners of the district council car park they will determine how long people can park there and at what price.

Town and district councillor Graham Payne said: "The town is already suffering from inadequate provision of car parking and unless the district council actually includes this as a part of the Vision for Trowbridge, where will long term parking be? This could store up real problems for the future and we have to be aware of that."

At the moment all day free parking is available at the multi-storey at Castle Place but charges at other district council-owned car parks in the town were recently doubled to £3.50 a day. Many commuters now park in residential streets around the town rather than pay the fees and there are fears this will increase, causing further problems for residents.

Local traders are worried their staff will not be able to park in the town and fear a lack of parking provision will deter shoppers.

Mike Williams, chief executive of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce, said: "Obviously as a chamber of commerce we encourage the development of the centre of Trowbridge, which will hopefully bring more prosperity to the town. However, we are obviously concerned about the potential loss of central car parking facilities.

"Since the rise in charges traders are already beginning to report it is having an effect on their businesses."

He said the chamber would be participating in a local car parking forum with the district council to look at the provision of alternative car parking facilities in less central locations.

It is believed a park and ride scheme in Trowbridge could be one option in the pipeline.

The district council has identified the potential housing development sites as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) affordable housing scheme that would see 500 new homes built in west Wiltshire, with the district council providing land for 100 of those.

Other sites being considered include the Weymouth Street car park in Warminster, public open space in Dorset Close, Melksham, land in Market Place, St George's Close and Fairfield Road in Warminster and an informal car parking area at The Conigre, Bradford on Avon.

There are also plans to use land occupied by the Hillside Hostel, Warminster, which is likely to face closure next month.

Council spokesman Louise Knox said: "The PFI bidding process requires us to identify land holdings that we consider to be potential development sites.

"The list that is currently with members for comment does nothing more than show where those pieces of land are.

"The council, working with its partners, is committed to ensuring that the right balance of short and long stay car parking is provided within Trowbridge.

"This will be an important consideration when looking at the potential of car parking sites to support PFI."