RESIDENTS in West Howe are still finding their road blocked by people parking illegally, despite efforts to stop the problem.

Ray Wills, chairman of ACT Community Residents Association, which represents people in the Turbary Park Avenue and Acres Road areas, said the organisation had campaigned for double yellow lines in Acres Road since last summer.

He said lines were painted at the start of 2013, but the problem of people parking to visit takeaways close to the entrance of Acres Road was still causing residents difficulty.

Ray added: “We were continually told throughout that the enforcement of illegal parking could not be enforced until this re-painting of the lines happened.

“We have since been informed that the lines would be monitored and enforced.”

He said the council had caught one or two motorists in recent weeks, but most were ignoring the restrictions.

Ray said: “Cars are still illegally parking on both sides of the road at the entrance to Acres Road, causing great difficulty of access to and from the road for local residents and council tenants, particularly in the early evenings when shoppers use the local takeaways on the parade.

“We, as a residents’ group, have been very patient and tolerant over this for too long and feel that it should be swiftly resolved by the council.”

Margaret Leslie, the council’s operations manager for parking management and enforcement, said: “Since the council has been made aware of concerns about cars parking illegally on the yellow lines, recently reinstated on Acres Road, our enforcement team have been patrolling the area twice a day, every day.

“This includes patrols between 6pm and 9pm. We are doing all we can with the resources available and have issued seven penalty charge notices since we’ve increased our patrols in that area.

“We have also moved on vehicles that we’ve caught about to park on the yellow lines. We will continue to patrol this area regularly.”