PARKING chiefs have once again been accused of inaction as permit misuse continues to blight residents across Winchester.

The city council recently came under fire for failing to deal with problem parkers acquiring visitors permits to flout the rules in Winnall.

The council has said it “regularly” patrols parking zones and investigates any reports of violations.

However, Dr Les Burwood, of Sleepers' Delle Gardens, has accused council bosses of offering a ‘bland reply’ to appease residents when such breaches are reported.

Dr Burwood has said he’s faced a long running conflict with students leaving their cars dangerously parked in the roads surrounding the university – sometimes for months on end.

“My short close is nearly always jam-packed with cars owned by students that don’t live here,” he said.

“Many display visitors permits day and night for months and months. They obviously live nearby, have bought them, or have been given them from those who do. They are certainly not short-term visitors. Some arrive in the morning and then go home later in the day. Others are here continuously. Many block access to refuse vehicles and ambulances through careless parking. Easy access to my own drive is often blocked by students’ vehicles and attendants say there is nothing they can do, which is, of course, complacent.

“They can’t be bothered, even when they do show up in our road. I haven’t seen an attendant here for several months, although the office claims to patrol ‘regularly’. Again, something contradicted by simple observation. Worst of all, I have personally faced abuse from students when challenging them about parking problems. I can more than stand my ground, but other residents are cowed into silence.”

City and county councillor Martin Tod previously paid a visit at the request of angered residents to discuss the possibility of implementing double-yellow lines – something Dr Burwood insists is richly-needed. But he thinks any progress has since been lost in ‘legal bureaucracy’.

READ MORE: Winchester woman calls for city council clampdown on visitor parking permit abuse in Winnall

Earlier this month, the Chronicle spoke with Alice May – a long-term resident of Winnall Manor Road – who said postal workers and care providers often use permits displaying addresses from across the estate to park for stints of up to 12 hours at a time.

She said: “I think the council just walk past, see a permit and don’t think to check it properly. If the traffic wardens spent a bit more time actually reading the permits, they’d see for themselves. They’re not fit for purpose – as long as they see a permit from 20 feet away, they don’t check it out.

“It’s going to be worse once they’ve finished building these flats. If you go out anywhere, you’re taking a chance on whether you can park near where you live. We pay a lot of money for these permits, and what do we get in return?

“It just feels like they’re making money out of everything. I’ve been in touch with the council several times and they’re just not interested.”

A council spokesperson said: “We regularly patrol our parking zones across the district and investigate any reports of parking violations received. Since January 1 we have issued 83 penalties for contravention of parking regulations (PCNs) in the Winnall area, with over a third of those being for Winnall Manor Road. We will now particularly monitor the use of Care Provider Exemption letters for providers situated in Winnall and encourage local residents who believe permit misuse to be taking place to report it to us by parking@winchester.gov.uk.”

Regarding Sleepers Delle Gardens, a council spokesperson added: “We have patrolled this particular location over 40 times in the last 12 months but only found eight instances where penalties were issued to vehicles. The most recent PCN was issued recently on May 20.”

Councillor Nick Adams-King, executive member for highways operations at Hampshire County Council, said: “While I can understand the resident’s frustration, Winchester City Council is currently responsible for managing on-street parking services in this area, on behalf of the county council. We will, however, raise this matter with them.”

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Kimberley Barber