RESIDENTS facing three-figure fines for parking near their Winchester homes have accused a housing association of “lining their own pockets” after too many permits were issued.

A2Dominion has clamped down with 24-hour restrictions in Peninsula and Erskine Roads but has allocated more than 60 passes for only 20 spaces, forcing families to park outside bays.

Private security guards for contractor PCM have stepped up 6am patrols to catch residents out with £100 fines.

The move has sparked concerns for the isolation of disabled tenants and families who will not be able to have visitors.

John Handy, of Frances Sheldon Court, has been hit with hundreds of pounds in fines over the last fortnight. He was this week stripped of his new permit entirely, meaning friends and family can no longer visit.

“If they come, they’re going to wind up with a ticket on their car,” he said.

“I feel really isolated,” said Mr Handy who is suffering from depression and anxiety. “Why can’t they paint more bays?”

The streets are a stone’s throw from Winchester University and various measures have been taken in recent years to tackle students stopping over during lectures.

Previously, under council ownership, the roads had daytime permit parking and residents would leave their vehicles outside bays to cope with the shortage of spaces.

Joanne Smith, of Peninsula Road, said: “It’s just greed, because PCM is 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days of the year – including Christmas Day.

“Where are [my family] going to park? I can’t have them over anymore. I understand that they want to stop students parking down here and stop taking residents’ places but we pay our council taxes.

“All they’re interested in is lining their own pockets.”

The housing association is installing 36 new spaces as part of a nearby housing development but will not provide extra space for current residents.

In a letter to families, Nisreen Al Amer, estate manager, said: “I would advise you that we will review the situation again once the building works have been completed ... however, due to the demand in this area it is unlikely that we are going to be in a position to offer additional parking space.

“Unfortunately there is no way that we are able to offer parking to satisfy all residents in the area.”

Tensions have been stoked by workmen taking some of the remaining spaces.

Anna Burridge, A2Dominion’s assistant director of housing, said: “Following reports of vehicles being parked on these roads without permits, we have instructed the company which enforces the permit scheme to increase the number of patrols they carry out and to vary the times at which these patrols take place.

“We are now monitoring the situation closely and will take further action if required.”

A2Dominion is set to consult residents in the coming weeks on whether to allow one or two permits per house, cutting the number of permits to 45 or 32.