MOTORISTS looking to park near the University of Worcester will find tough experimental parking restrictions on residential streets this month.

In some cases householders won’t be able to park outside their homes when restrictions come into force on Saturday, November 14. But residents say the new restrictions will simply force cars into side streets, where no restrictions apply.

As we previously reported transport bosses are introducing the traffic regulation orders along congested main bus routes in St John’s to help cope with a predicted upturn in buses caused by the expansion of the University of Worcester.

This is the first phase of a two-part county council scheme, with the second phase targeting parking problems in the side streets.

For months residents living near the campus have been complaining about staff and students parking in their streets.

Andy Chinn, Worcester City Council’s head of traffic wardens, said his parking wardens would continue to patrol the area ‘fairly’, but ruled out a crackdown following the new orders.

The new orders will be a combination of a ban on any waiting (double yellow lines), a ban on waiting between 8.30am and 5pm (single yellow lines) and restricted waiting for one hour, with no return for two hours afterwards. All cars will be affected.

The restrictions will cover Henwick Road, Laugherne Road, Comer Gardens, Comer Road, Oldbury Road and Fern Road.

Worcestershire County Council will be asking for people’s opinions on the new restrictions during a 12-month consultation.

In Henwick Road for example, the existing double yellow lines from Hylton Road junction to the Oldbury Road junction is staying.

There will also be experimental no waiting areas between 8.30am and 5pm, south from the junction of Oldbury Road nearly to the Hardwicke Close junction - there will be three of these zones on alternating sides of the road.

The existing double yellow lines by Wheeler Close will now be extended northwards to Westbourne Close.

Meanwhile, in Oldbury Road, outside Oldbury Park Primary School there will be a mix of one-hour waiting zones and peak time restriction zones.

The county council says the zones have been chosen by listening to residents’ concerns.

But wheelchair-user Kevin Candon, of Hampton Close, St John's, said the plan was “ridiculous”.

“That will just push the drivers into Buck Street, Mcintyre Road and my road,” he said.

Darren Novell will see a single yellow line painted opposite his driveway in Henwick Road.

“Either restrict both sides of the road or don’t bother because people will just park where there aren’t any yellow lines,” he added.

Barry Collins, of Comer Gardens, said he welcomed restrictions if they stopped cars mounting the pavement to get past parked vehicles but warned motorists may now speed without the traffic calming influence of parked cars.

Councillor Derek Prodger, county council transport chief, said: “We have introduced these experimental orders to ensure we know any restrictions could work in practice, before being made on a more permanent basis.”

He added the aims were to improve bus travel in the area.

Full details can be seen at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/parking, by calling 01905 765765 or emailing roadtrafficregs@worcestershire.gov.uk.