This petition requests a full and transparent public consultation on the future of the Trowbridge Multi Storey Car Park

Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for Economic Development - Helen Belcher - wishes to dispose of the Trowbridge Multi Storey Car Park by transferring it to the owner of Castle Place shopping centre. This action removes the current covenant which provides free parking for the people of Trowbridge in perpetuity because the owner of the car park and the shopping centre will be the same entity - therefore the duty to uphold the covenant will fall away.

This proposal was approved by Wiltshire Council in 2025 BUT the funding of the transfer - a staged payment of £2.5M - was NOT APPROVED by the council.

Ms Belcher and fellow councillor Mr. Palmen (now Mayor of Trowbridge) attempted to gain approval again by adding a separate motion at a council meeting, but when it was made public that Wiltshire Council officials were aware that Mr. Ali, owner of Castle Place had failed to pay Business Rates, the motion was dropped.

£3.5M of taxpayer money to transfer the car park but no plan, no funding and no developer

The sum which Mr. Ali wants to receive along with the title of the car park is now estimated to be >£3.5M, however, there is no plan, no funding and no identified developer for the site located in the historic centre of Trowbridge.

....and ~£80K PA in cell tower rental income....

Mr. Ali not only failed to pay taxes due, which was known by council cabinet members but was denied by them, but also potentially benefitted from receipt of rental income of ~£80,000 per year from the cell phone masts installed on the shopping centre.