Car park crush will last for 12 weeks

The work is due to finish before the end of November and the most spaces out of action at any time will be 35.

The car park has 84 spaces and the work is being carried out in three phases.

The deteriorated surface is being replaced because rain leaks through it onto cars below during wet weather. The old surface also causes a hazard to pedestrians who could easily trip on it.

Coun David Packham, the leader of the council, said the work was necessary to avoid injury claims.

He said the work was deliberately scheduled to take place ahead of the Christmas shopping rush.

Coun Packham has also ordered a maintenance review of Chippenham's six other car parks controlled by the council.

A display is to go up in Emery Gate Shopping Centre to keep people informed of the work in progress.

The district council is paying the £132,781 cost of the work and it is going out to tender as soon as possible to ensure it starts on time.

The council will lose an estimated £2,048 in car parking fees while the work is carried out.

Mike Braun, the owner of Tops women's clothing in Chippenham High Street said he was disappointed at the timing of the work.

But Mr Braun, a former Chippenham town councillor, said: "There is never a good time to close part of a car park and everybody understands they have to be maintained.

"It is one of the busiest times of the year up until Christmas and it is a struggle to get enough car parking as it is. Could the work have not waited until after Christmas?"

Richard Brought, the manager of DAC Stationary, in the High Street, said he thought Somerfield in Emery Gate would suffer the worst.

He agreed the work should be put off until a quieter period.

"It's got to be done sometime but its strange that it's in the build-up to Christmas," he said.

The surface of the upper deck at Emery Gate will be removed, exposing the concrete base, for a new specialist surface to be laid.