RESIDENTS in an Evesham street were up in arms this week after parking restrictions were painted on the road close to their homes.

They were angered when a parking space for a residential home minibus replaced four parking spaces they had used for years in North Road.

Pamela Harridine and neighbour Jean-Paul Mercer said they were annoyed at the keep clear road markings, which were put down to enable residents of nearby Brooklands Residential Home, for adults with learning disabilities, to gain easy access.

"It's not the fact the sign has been put there that annoys me, it is the sheer size of it. I realise they need to gain access but do the markings need to take up four car spaces," said Mrs Harridine.

"I phoned the council to ask why this had been done and was told that the home had requested space for their minibus. That's fine, but it's only a people carrier, not a minibus.

"What right does the council have to go painting yellow lines on the road that have no legal relevance?"

"The minibus has not been seen parked on these markings since it was done. It remains further down the street where it has done for weeks with a flat tyre and on tow sign in the window. All that has happened is four car-parking spaces have disappeared."

Mr Mercer, who lives next door to the home, said traffic was getting worse. "The home needs the keep clear sign but why it has to take up all these spaces I don't know."

Sally Everest of the Highways Partnership in Evesham said the road markings would remain. "The care home came to us because they were struggling to park their vehicle. As you can appreciate, not all the people there are very mobile so we were satisfied that they needed the markings. "

Carol Thomas, manager of the home, who requested the road markings, said: "I put in a request for safety purposes so no-one would block the double gates. If we needed a fire engine or an ambulance, then keeping that section of the road clear for an emergency vehicle is a sensible option."