A lorry park in Melksham could be moved to an out-of-town superstore following a string of complaints from residents living near its current home in King Street car park.

People living in Spa Court first called for the lorry park to be moved early last year, after recounting their nightmare experiences of drivers urinating outside their homes, engine fumes filling their houses and drivers even peering in through their windows from their cabs.

At the Melksham Area Board meeting on Wednesday it was decided the lorry park would be closed and moved to Leekes car park, off Beanacre Road, within the next six to 12 months.

A £20,000 study carried out by Wiltshire Council contractors Mouchel revealed that the Leekes car park was the most suitable location and bosses at the department store had agreed to the move.

Melksham town councillor Jon Hubbard, who has been spearheading the campaign on behalf of residents to have the park moved, told the area board he was delighted with the result.

He said: “I am so happy for residents. This report fully vindicates all that they have been saying and clearly shows the need for the lorry park to be moved.”

After area board councillors voted in favour of closing the King Street car park lorry area, chairman Cllr Jonathon Seed revealed he had already spoken to the cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Dick Tonge, who agreed to follow the report’s recommendations.

Kirsty Wilson, from council contractors Mouchel, said the survey was carried out over two nights and included speaking to drivers and assessing the number of lorries using the space, as well as looking into other sites.

She said the study concluded that the King Street car park was not a suitable place for lorries to park and that the Leekes car park met all the criteria.

She said: “Leekes are willing to enter an agreement with Wiltshire Council to provide lorry parking at their location and are also willing to provide facilities for drivers.”

Leekes’ HR and store operations director, Peter Martin, said: “We are in discussion with the council about our Melksham store car park possibly being used as a lorry park. They have asked for our help with the relocation of the lorry park and our store is one of a few being considered due to our ideal location on the edge of the town.

“Talks are in the early stages and a decision is yet to be made.”