CHIPPENHAM residents are demanding that the proceeds from a car park being sold off for housing by the county council are ploughed back into their community.

Until this week, the controversial piece of land at the top of Park Lane and New Road had been used as an unofficial car park by home owners and businesses, who claim they have nowhere else to park.

But Wiltshire County Council is now selling the land with planning for private housing, leaving residents like Liz Mann high and dry.

Mrs Mann, 60, of Park Lane, said: "Parking is already a nightmare here and we're very angry that it is to be sold off for more new housing without any thought for where we and the new people will park.

"We think the proceeds from the sale should be used to set up a residents' parking scheme."

The row over the New Road car park has been simmering since November 2001 when plans for housing on the site were thrown out by members of North Wiltshire District Council's area development control committee.

Councillors said residential development would result in more traffic and even less parking.

But both North Wiltshire and Chippenham town councils declined offers by the county council to take over responsibility for the car park and the county council proceeded with its plans to put the land up for sale.

Mrs Mann and other residents say they received a letter from the county council a year ago asking if they would be willing to pay for designated car parking but the plan seems to have been forgotten.

Sandie Webb, leader of Chippenham Town Council, said she was angry at the county council's decision to sell of the car park for housing.

"I am totally against this policy of theirs to maximise all their capital, by selling land for development without thinking about the repercussions," she said.

But Wiltshire County Council defended its decision to sell to the highest bidder. Press spokesman Tim Champion said: "The county council is obliged to manage its property effectively and should not hold on to any land that is not being used for operational purposes. The county council is also required to obtain the best price possible in the sale of any of its assets.

"The county council is not a car parking authority and the land in question is currently being used as an unofficial car park."

He added: "The land has been offered to the town and district councils for use as a car park and both have declined the offer."

Mrs Mann say she and fellow residents now plan to set up a pressure group to fight for a residents' parking scheme.