Campaigners have failed to stop the sale of a community car park in Prestbury.

Contracts have already been exchanged on the sale of Idsall Drive car park by Cheltenham Borough Council. But local people took a petition to the council calling for the sale to stop.

As the petition had over 750 signatures, it was entitled to a debate at the full council meeting yesterday (March 18).

The 10-space short stay car park, close to Prestbury's High Street, currently costs Cheltenham Borough Council about £4,000 per year to maintain.

Presenting the petition to the council, Cllr Stephen Fifield (Pittville, Conservative), said: "The report recommends you reject the petition. I hope you will listen to me about this.

"The report doesn't consider the economic benefits it's providing - the only free car park in the area providing access to the local high street. Every single owner of a business on that high street is against this sale. I think that really needs to be considered here.

"There are two clear paths - one is to listen to the democratic necessity to review, to look at additional options and to mitigate the problems of the prospective sale.

"The other is just cracking on, not listening to the people of Prestbury, not listening to the petition and doing massive damage to the area of Prestbury."

Cllr Peter Jeffries, cabinet member for finance and assets (Springbank, Lib Dem) accused Cllr Fifield of playing politics with the petition.

He said: "In my view, residents who've signed this petition have been misled. The residents of Prestbury need to be aware. I haven't received any emails or calls from Cllr Fifield or the Prestbury ward councillors in the last six months while this petition was being organised, neither have the officers of this council.

"At the end of a three-year process for Idsall Drive car park, in my opinion this petition is all about politics. This is in stark contrast with how this administration operates.

"I take offence at the accusation that residents were ignored. The whole process took several years, and a range of solutions were explored. The democratic process has been followed to the letter."

Cllr Stan Smith (Prestbury, People Against Bureaucracy), said: "If you look at the businesses in the village, they're looking for footfall. You take the car park away; people aren't going to go into the village.

"The King's Arms is already annoyed with people using their car park, so their patrons can't use it."

Cllr Martin Horwood (Lib Dem, Leckhampton) told members of the council that Prestbury Parish Council didn't spend a single penny of its Community Infrastructure Levy in 2022/23, which would have been sufficient to purchase the car park. The parish council had twice been offered the car park for sale at a favourable price and had rejected the offer.

Cllr Horwood said: "This wasn't a last-minute fait accompli foisted on the people of Prestbury. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Twenty-six council members voted in favour of rejecting the petition, with nine against, meaning the sale of Idsall Drive car park can continue.