EVESHAM car owners demanding parking permits for their street, following the re-enforcement of waiting restrictions, have been backed by town councillors.

Neighbours living on Briar Close cannot park for more than two hours at a time from 7am to 7pm each day. The waiting limit was re-enforced after broken white lines were repainted on the street around five weeks ago. A petition, signed by 35 residents, calling for the removal of the lines or introduction of parking permits, was sent to the council.

Resident Lee Merrett, in a letter to members, said: "The (county) council suggested we have the option to pay all day to keep our car in a car park, but why should we have to park half a mile away and pay.

"All we want is for everything to be as it was before these lines - no problems, no fuss, just happy residents."

Councillor Simon Widdus, speaking at a meeting on Monday, said: "I'm forced to agree with the residents on this. These people live in Briar Close and I think it would be a very good idea to introduce resident-only parking, so they can park there whenever they like. I'm sure the cost of resident parking is cheaper than getting a ticket every day."

Cllr Ron Payne added: "You've got to work out how many cars you can get in there, on the assumption there is one space per house. I've seen this sort of thing happen in Cheltenham and it seems to work very well."

But Cllr Roma Kirke disagreed: "If you leave everything as it was before you still have residents who park days on end. You cannot make the 31-needed parking spaces in Briar Close when there is only room for 13."

Members resolved to contact Worcestershire County Council asking them to look at the situation, with a view to introducing resident parking.