PLANS to bring shoppers back to Cricklade High Street by building a new car park are in jeopardy because of a dispute over land, it is claimed.

Cricklade Town Council wants to build a car park for 27 vehicles off the High Street to give struggling traders a much-needed boost.

Funding of £10,000 for the project has even been secured from North Wiltshire District Council.

But a social club next door to the site is said to be refusing to allow shoppers access to the car park across its land.

Now it is feared North Wiltshire could withdraw its offer of funding unless an agreement can be reached in the next few weeks.

Town Council chairman, Clive Wilce, fears that without the new car park, High Street trade will continue to decline.

He said: "The car park is the key to Cricklade's future survival.

"While people have nowhere to park they will shun local shops in favour of out of town super-stores."

Mr Wilce said slow trade had already forced two shops and a caf to close.

He thinks the Vale of White Horse Social Club may be refusing to co-operate because of a mis-understanding with the council that dates back 50 years.

The club sold the land to Crick-lade Town Council in the 1950s, under the impression that it had a right to buy back the land if it was ever for sale.

So five years ago, when half the land was sold to set up a health surgery, Mr Wilce said the club contested the sale insisting it should have been given the option to buy it.

However, solicitors who examined the old paperwork found no record of any buy back deal.

Mr Wilce said: "All I can say is that it was a misunderstanding many years ago.

"We are a new council now, with new blood and we want to take Cricklade forward for the benefit of the residents, traders and the club members."

He appealed to the club chairman to ask members to consider entering discussions with the council.

He said a substantial sum had been set aside to buy the right of way from the club.

"We need to encourage trade and business and we can only do that with more parking," he said.

He said that Cricklade Town Council would also fight tooth and nail to make sure the parking is free of charge.

"Club members could use it so it would help them too," added Mr Brice.

Paul Langcaster, spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council, said: "Local members are still hopeful of a satisfactory resolution to the negotiations and that it would be advisable for the £10,000 allocation to be retained for this purpose."

No one was available to comment on behalf of the Vale of White Horse club.