CHANGES to parking restrictions have wreaked havoc in Bradford on Avon, withmany people finding they can no longer park outside their own homes.

Residents living in the picturesque town centre now have time-limitedparking outside their houses, meaning they often cannot park there during the day.

Some say the new parking rules mean people are driving to the edges of thetown to park, causing knock-on problems for other residential areas.There have also been reports that traffic has sped up through the town asthere are fewer car parks along the streets.

West Wiltshire District Council issued 355 penalty notices between June 16and June 23.

County councillor Malcolm Hewson organised a meeting in the United Reformed Church Hall on June 16 with invites to representatives from the district andcounty councils.

No-one from either council attended, but consultants employed by the county council did. Cllr Hewson is backing a campaign to have the time-limited parkingrestrictions suspended pending a review of the restrictions by the county council with the possibility of residents' parking being introduced.

Cllr Hewson said: "For many years residents and the town council have beentold that residents' parking would have to wait until the civil enforcementof parking."

Meanwhile, the restrictions were not enforced indeed they wereunenforceable because the markings and signs were not maintained.

"Residents reasonably expected that the regulations would be reviewed at thetime of civil parking enforcement and have been stunned to discover that thecouncil is expected to review it only after six months.

"I am relieved that the county council has agreed to begin the reviewimmediately, but this takes time and the issue is now.

"I am repeating my call to the district and county not to enforcerestrictions in limited-waiting on-street parking until the review can becompleted. I am also asking for a meeting with lead councillors in both thecounty and district."

Former town mayor Cllr Peter Leach added: "It is encouraging people to drivefaster and it hasn't done anything for road safety. The only thing it's doneis create a lot of anger."