Leominster residents are having to pay hundreds of pounds or park several streets away from their homes because the county council left them out of a residents’ parking scheme.
The council introduced on-street parking restrictions along Arkwright Close and Broad Street in 2016.
While several Broad Street properties have access from Arkwright Close only numbers 34 to 46 were included in the scheme.
Chris Warren, who has an alleyway going from the back of his property to the close, had to pay more than £860 to use one of the council-owned car parks over a couple of years – the yearly cost for a residential permit is £30.
“It’s absolute madness,” he said.
“They introduced the scheme to stop shoppers parking on residential streets but it’s affected the residents.
“I used to park along Arkwright Close, but when the changes were introduced all I could do was pay the going rate to park at the Broad Street car park.”
“One solution I proposed to them was giving residents like me the chance to pay for a residents’ parking permit and park in the Broad Street car park but this was refused flat out.”
Now, Mr Warren says he is one of many who have to park on residential streets which do not have restrictions.
“The trouble with that is you have to plan your life around whether or not you will get a parking space.
“I can’t go out before 9am because if I come back later in the morning I will have lost my space to others who commute or visit the town.”
Ward councillor Jenny Bartlett said Broad Street was just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of parking problems in the town.
“It’s clear these residents are being doubly discriminated against.
“The scheme needs to be reassessed. Half of Broad Street has been included and the other half left out.
“There is intense pressure on parking in Leominster with the increase in flats above commercial properties being turned into flats.
“Everyone in the town is struggling. We need to find a solution that is fair to all.”
A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said they are working with the coun Bartlett, Leominster Town Council and other groups to find a compromise.”
“We are aware of some residents’ concerns about parking in Broad Street, Leominster,” he said.
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