TOUGHER rules on parking in Weeke have been given the green light, but locals say they still want more to be done.

It comes after residents voiced concern that their roads were being blocked by commuters and students.

The new regulations will impose two-hour waiting areas to to prevent parking in residential streets. Double and single yellow lines will also be painted in some areas.

At the parking and traffic sub-committee meeting on Tuesday July 26 residents said students from Peter Symonds College were blocking access.

The new rules would see the waiting areas enforced from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. However, resident permit holders will be exempt.

One local, Mr Brockway, of Stoney Lane, said it was becoming so bad he couldn’t get out of his driveway.

“Even though I live on the main road, my driveway is in Woodlea Close.

When cars are parked either side of the road, you cannot get out. It can be a nightmare sometimes. Woodlea was only built for a car to go up and down, not for parking on both sides.

“The dustcarts also struggle to get down and have to park at the end and drag the bins up, which is not fair on them.”

The stricter action comes after a five-year public engagement by Neville Crisp, the city council’s transport engineer.

He said the council had received 15 objections to the plans and had tried to accommodate as many as they could.

“One of the issues we have is we have to be consistent with other restrictions in the area and the city,” Mr Crisp added.

“If we make a variety of different restrictions it will become very difficult to enforce.

“If someone parks in one road – which is unrestricted – on one day and another road – which isn’t – the next and receives a ticket, it will most likely be thrown out at appeal because of the inconsistency in the area. It is all very difficult.”

One solution raised was the addition of a new Park and Ride scheme as the area is not served by one.

This was backed by Waitrose, who have a supermarket on Stockbridge Road.

Adrian Martin, of Waitrose, said: “The allocation for parking for staff and partners in the area is difficult as there is no pay and display or Park and Ride. As a result, many of our staff park in the surrounding roads.”

Chairman of the committee, Cllr James Byrnes, said this was being considered as part of the council’s mid-term parking review currently taking place.

The committee voted unanimously to put the decision through.