MALMESBURY Chamber of Commerce members are writing an urgent appeal to North Wiltshire District Council to address the shortage of car parking spaces in the town.

The chamber is also urging local people to write to the council and make their feelings known.

In a letter to district council chief executive Bob Marshall, the chamber invites the district council to 'fulfil their duty to provide much needed and long overdue additional car parking in Malmesbury.'

There was anger in the town two weeks ago when budget figures for 2001-2002 revealed the district council had made almost £70,000 from parking fees at Cross Hayes car park.

Despite this, no spending had been budgeted this year to help solve the problem. Chair of the chamber, Alan Woodward, said it was it was about time action was taken.

"I hope something will be done to solve the long-term problem of parking in Malmesbury and the district council will spend some of the money they have made at Cross Hayes car park," he said.

The set letters, available at Woodward Jewellers on the High Street, only need an address and signature before posting. Barbara Pollard, who runs Abbey House Gardens, said the garden's numbers of visitors had increased three-fold since last year: "We would like to see the district council address the need for extra car parking very urgently," she said.