Parking space battle in Bridgnorth street

More than 40 households are battling to use just seven parking spaces in a narrow street in Bridgnorth.

People living in Railway Street want it to be declared residents-only parking. They are fed-up with having to compete with non-residents for the spaces.

Every house in the street is able to buy a £50 annual parking permit to use one of the seven bays in the road but it does not give them a guaranteed space.

Shropshire Council said it needed to consider parking spaces needed for shoppers and short-term visitors to the town, as well as residents.

Resident Neil Hancock said, on behalf of the area's residents' association, that they wanted a meeting with the council to resolve the issue.

He said: "Every house in the street is entitled to buy a permit for £50 but there are 40 or more houses.

"So basically the council is asking you to pay £50 per year and guarantee you nothing.

"What we're after is for the street to be designated residents parking only."

Mr Hancock said residents were also concerned about cars blocking the street and, in some cases, refuse had not been collected because non-resident vehicles had been in the way.

Residents are also having to pay to park in the neighbouring council car park if they cannot find a space.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for parking, said: "As a result of comments raised by residents we are currently making some changes to residents' parking restrictions on some streets in Bridgnorth.

"The difficulty we have in Bridgnorth, and in many of our historic towns, is that we have narrow streets with limited space for parking.

"In some streets we have to also consider the parking space needed for shoppers and short-term visitors, as well as for residents.

"Therefore in some locations we have to find a compromise solution to try and meet the needs of all who may wish to park in the street. This is the situation in Railway Street.

"We will contact the Residents' Association to find out more about what they thinks the problems are, and to determine whether we need to make any further changes."

By Lou Robson