A DEVELOPER has come under fire for washing its hands of parking shortages at a housing estate. McCarthy & Stone built Giffords Court, Melksham, where residents are finding it impossible to park due to a lack of designated spaces.

Melksham Town Council also received a letter saying a fire crew had found it difficult to access the premises.

The town council tried to organise a meeting between McCarthy & Stone, residents and the town council but developers refused and councillors believe the developers have washed their hands of the problem.

Cllr Davina Griffin said at a town council meeting on Monday: "We predicted this at the start. We knew this would happen. We took a leap of faith with them.

"It's outrageous that McCarthy & Stone can just cut and run and just absolve themselves from all responsibility.

"What I find sad about it is we genuinely engaged with them and if another developer asks me to have faith in them I will be less likely to do so. The trust we have put in them has been tarnished and our ability to take leaps of faith with them will be reduced in the future."

Norman Carter, estates manager for Peveral, which manages the site on behalf of McCarhty & Stone, said: "Residents purchase their property and are fully aware of the parking facilities at that development."

He added that any difficulties experienced by the fire services were due to inconsiderate parking by residents.

"If residents parked in the designated areas only, then the emergency vehicles should have reasonable access to the building," he said.

Derek Field, regional managing director for McCarthy & Stone, said he did not know what a meeting would achieve and said the developer's involvement ended after the properties were sold.

Cllr Richard Wiltshire said any errors lie with the planning department at West Wiltshire District Council, which gave permission for the development.