A DISABLED man says he is at risk of being run over because the pavement outside his home has been blocked by inconsiderate parking.

Amputee Kevin Candon is one of 18 residents of Hampton Close, St John’s, Worcester, to write to your Worcester News to complain about parking problems.

Mr Candon, aged 53, said drivers often blocked the pavement completely so he could not get past in his wheelchair.

Another resident, Barry Freeman, said their rubbish was sometimes not collected for a week because the bin lorries could not get into the close.

Mr Candon said: “You just can’t get the wheelchair past some of the cars.

“I have to wheel myself off the kerb and onto the road to get past and I don’t think West Mercia Police or Worcester City Council are doing enough about it. There are mums with pushchairs trying to get past the parked cars and some of the cars also speed down here.

“I am now having to get taxis or persuade my wife to give me a lift because of the situation.

“I have had a few strong words with them and I would say 99.9 per cent are students. It’s disgusting. Somebody will get killed one day.”

Barry Freeman, aged 61, who lives in the close with 62-year-old wife Patricia, said the road was the most busy between 9am and 4pm and remains convinced that all the people who park there are students as residents have their own driveways.

He added: “It’s getting worse and worse and the other day was the worst I have ever seen it, with nine cars on the pavement.

“It is causing so much aggravation. Sometimes driveways can be blocked if someone has parked directly opposite. If we say anything we just get abuse.”

Residents have already been in contact with Coun Margaret Layland and Worcester MP Mike Foster about the situation.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said there was a proposal under review for daytime parking restrictions west of Worcester, near the University of Worcester.

Plans about the exact nature of the restrictions are now being finalised and will be announced “within the next few weeks”.

Andy Chinn, enforcement team leader at Worcester City Council, said the restrictions which were being proposed for Hampton Close would mean that no-one could park there, Mondays to Fridays, between 10am and 4pm.

He said: “We are trying to ease the situation and I understand it’s frustrating for people, especially people in wheelchairs trying to get along the pavement.”

A spokesman for the University of Worcester said: “The university actively encourages all those who do travel to campus by car to park legally and courteously and very strongly supports the regulation and control of on-street parking.

“Compared to the national average, the university has a high proportion of students and staff with disabilities, including mobility disabilities, and the university has often raised the importance of not blocking pavements by inconsiderate parking.

”The university has agreed to contribute £1 million to the city and county council in order to improve public transport and the control of parking in St John’s, as well as improve pedestrian and cycling facilities in the vicinity of the University’s campuses.”

A spokesman for West Mercia Police urged people to continue to be ‘supportive and patient’.

She added: “We cannot solve this overnight.”