DEVELOPERS of a luxury estate in London Road, Marlborough, are being accused of going back on a parking agreement for local businesses.

This week signs have gone up in Kelham Gardens warning drivers they will be clamped if they park there.

The move has angered businesses in the London Road because their customers have been able to park in Kelham Gardens when all the spaces along the A4 are full.

Six signs have been erected on lamp posts in the street. They say: "No parking on roadway. Failure to comply with this notice will lead to vehicle being immobilised. Release fee £99 or towed away fee £125 plus VAT."

The signs were put up by the Security International Group, which was acting as agent for Village Green Homes Limited, which built the executive-style development.

On Tuesday, two uniformed security patrol officers warned motorists that if they parked in the street their cars would be wheel clamped.

Village Green Homes managing director Chris Vokins lives in Kelham Gardens, but he was not available to comment yesterday on why the clamping measures have been introduced.

Letters from Village Green Homes were hand delivered to people living in the area and to the residents of Churchill Court retirement homes.

The letter stated: "The road is currently entering the final stage prior to adoption by Wiltshire County Council. During this period it is important that the areas to be adopted are kept clear of any obstruction at all times."

The letter went on to say that Security International was being employed for the next 12 months to undertake a vehicle immobilisation programme.

It added: "Please note that the clamping will be carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the 12-month period starting on April 19 2004."

Businesses were angry about the threat. Butcher John Sumbler said that when Kelham Gardens was built a number of parking spaces in London Road were lost when a visibility splay for the new estate was provided as a highway requirement.

The developer agreed that in return for taking up the spaces it would provide alternative parking on the access road to Kelham Gardens.

Mr Sumbler said: "Spaces were taken away on the premise of additional parking being made available."

A member of staff at London Road Post Office said some of the customers parked in Kelham Gardens when all the parking on the main road was taken up.

Coun Margaret Boulton, the county councillor for Marlborough, said she had received a number of complaints about the clamping threat.

She said there had been an agreement that in return for taking up spaces on London Road the developer would make spaces available for shoppers to park.

She said she had contacted Security International who had given her an assurance that no-one would be clamped for at least a further week until Wiltshire County Council holds talks with Village Green Homes.

A Churchill Court resident said visitors relied on parking along Kelham Gardens because there were insufficient spaces within the retirement homes complex.

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said plans were in hand for the council to adopt the road as a highway in a year's time.

He said until it had been formally adopted it remained private property.