A SURVEY of businesses in Wotton-under-Edge has indicated an overwhelming need for additional parking in the town centre, fuelling claims a lack is stunting growth of the town economy.

A Wotton Town Forum questionnaire was circulated to businesses and trader to gauge opinion on facilities.

Of 66 businesses that responded, 99 percent perceived some degree of difficulty in parking.

Results also showed 99 percent think change is required, with 86 percent favouring additional long-term parking.

Forum chairman Cllr Gareth Kitchen said members have been lobbying Stroud District Council for over 18 months.

"The main reason for the survey was to demonstrate to the district council that there is a genuine and massive need for more parking," he said. "There is a general feeling among traders that the parking problem is restricting business growth. The growth of small businesses underpins the whole economy, which is in turn being held back."

The questionnaire also quizzed traders on staff numbers, where they park and how long for. There are around 200 spaces in The Chipping, Co-op, Civic Centre and Potters Pond car parks. Survey results indicate staff occupy 30 percent.

Cllr Kitchen added: "It is pleasing to see that a large number of staff park considerately - off the street away from the town centre. We need to encourage more businesses to do the same, freeing up spaces for genuine users and shoppers."

Wotton Pet Shop owner John Dooley believes there is a massive problem with parking.

"The problem definitely affects the number of people coming into the shop," said Mr Dooley. "Spaces are being taken up by people working in the town, leaving less parking for customers."

The problem had got progressively worse over the past five years.

"We need to create another long-stay car park instead of allowing more houses to be built without sufficient parking facilities. More cars are coming into the town yet there is less parking than ever."

Town Mayor Cllr Chris Galbraith said he welcomed more research.

"We do need to establish exactly what the situation is," he stated. "Each highway improvement we see does eat into parking provisions and with an increase in population it is important we have sufficient parking."

Cllr Galbraith added the town council would have to be realistic about a new car park if it were deemed the only solution.

"'If it is proved we need a new car park, the town would have to seek help from other authorities," he said. "Funding for a new car park could be massive and I don't think rate payers would support spending £1 million on car parking.

Stroud District Council is responding to claims of insufficient parking by carrying out a survey this month.

Spokesman Dave Marshall said the council does not want to decide anything until it has results of the full survey.

"We will include users as well as traders to find out exactly what the parking situation is and then work to find a possible solution," he said. "There has been some talk of the possible use of an allotment site near the town centre for car parking but it might be possible to manage the situation through other means. Extra car parking is not always the best solution."