Politics & Council · Trowbridge
Trowbridge car park row escalates as councillors clash over budget transparency
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A heated debate at a recent Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting saw accusations of dishonesty regarding the future of Trowbridge's St Stephen's multi-storey car park.
Tensions surrounding the future of the St Stephen's multi-storey car park in Trowbridge reached a peak during a recent Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting, with one councillor facing warnings of potential legal action amid a clash over financial transparency.
The argument centred on the council's plans for the car park and the £1.75 million previously earmarked for maintenance in the 2026/27 budget. Councillor Chris Vaughan of Reform UK alleged that the administration never intended to spend the funds on repairs. Instead, he claimed the money was intended to support the prospective new owner of the site, identified as Tahir Ali, who also owns the neighbouring Castle Place shopping centre.
The controversy stems from a long-running dispute over a 50-year-old covenant that links the car park and the shopping centre. While the council maintains that a transfer deal is necessary, the process has faced significant scrutiny. Following a previous rejection of funding by Full Council in January 2026, cabinet members returned with revised terms in July. Despite an attempt by opposition councillors to call the decision in for formal scrutiny, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted 7-4 to allow the process to move forward.
During the recent cabinet session, Councillor Vaughan questioned how £5.1 million in total maintenance funding could be reallocated for asset disposal so soon after the budget was finalised. In response, Helen Belcher, the cabinet member for economic development, regeneration, and assets, stated that the possibility of moving money between budget areas was first discussed internally on 9 March 2026, shortly after the February budget meeting.
The exchange turned confrontational when Councillor Vaughan suggested the administration's financial planning was not genuine. Wiltshire Council leader, Councillor Ian Thorn, intervened sharply, stating: "I'm going to have to stop you there because I'm not going to be accused of being dishonest, particularly in a public forum. I'm going to ask you to withdraw that, because we're getting very close into a legal environment here."
Councillor Gavin Grant, the cabinet member for finance, also took issue with the suggestion that the budget presentation had been misleading. While Councillor Vaughan clarified that he was not making accusations against any specific individual, he continued to press the administration on why the decision to move funds was made so soon after the budget was approved.
The meeting concluded with Councillor Thorn urging caution regarding the allegations. Addressing the wider debate on the site's future, he remarked that suggestions of spending significant sums on demolition and rebuilding were not reflective of the council's current plans.
Source: Wiltshire Times — Trowbridge · View original