Is it the thin end of the wedge – or the latest whim of some big cheese?

Residents on a Swindon estate have been scratching their heads after the appearance of a triangular-shaped parking space.

New lines are being painted in East Wichel in the latest stage of work to control parking in the network of residential streets.

The wedge is at the end of an area marked out for parking in Ravensdale. Although it is part of the approach to a junction, residents say they can see no reason why the spot couldn’t be used for parked cars.

But Swindon Borough Council says the triangle is there because the parking spaces are in what is effectively a layby.

One householder said they had expected contractors to squeeze in two more parking spaces. “We need spaces. There can be so many cars down here. I can see why they need restrictions but parking is so tricky. We don’t know why we’ve got this weird shape. There should be plenty of room for more spaces there.”

Another Ravensdale resident, Laura Parnham, posted a picture of the triangle on Twitter and said: “Our additional spaces turned out like this – you can’t get a car in this and it looks like we’ve just painted it ourselves.”

Also on Twitter, Jason Rawlins added: “It will be like most things done around here, half-hearted, we must be due some more kerb stones and footpaths redone soon!!! Nothing has been done to address what residents will do with their cars.”

The marking work was done by contractors for East Wichel developer Taylor Wimpey. A council spokesman said the bay at Ravensdale had been extended by 10 metres so there was now space for nine vehicles.

“As the parking bay is in a layby, a taper was created to maximise the number of additional spaces and maintain the bay’s alignment with the kerb. Further lining work will be carried out by the council over the next few weeks as part of a package of works to create additional parking bays elsewhere in East Wichel.”

Jane Milner-Barry Labour councillor for Old Town said the laudable ‘Utopian’ vision behind East Wichel – with the broad aim of reducing dependence on cars – was beginning to face challenges as the estate matured.

“We’ve now got a lot of grown-up children at home and going out to work by car.”

The latest phase of road markings will create around 60 new official parking spaces in a programme first mooted last year. The council says the work will help bring forward the point at which it can take over responsibility for the roads on the estate, and enforce parking restrictions.

Coun Milner-Barry added: “It’s fingers crossed. Residents have got lots of questions to ask, and as councillors we will try to answer everybody’s questions.”