Motorist spots gap in markings

Fancy a free parking space? One motorist in Stourbridge certainly struck lucky when he spotted this one in Stourbridge.

The Volkswagon Golf fitted neatly into the gap between double yellow lines on Birmingham Street opposite scaffold supply business Cox Hire.

Passers-by claimed the gap had not been filled in for up to six weeks after the road markings were made. Dudley Council today said workers re-visit roads if something had prevented them from finishing the lines.

Speaking to the Express & Star, the motorist, who would not be named, said he had only used the gap for parking as he was late for work. "There are no lines here so I think I'm well within my rights to park here and I don't think I'm blocking any of the buses," he said. "I had been running late for work and had not parked here before."

The double yellows were part of a larger scheme ordered by transport chiefs at the council to cut congestion in the town.

Student Dave Windridge, aged 17, who attends the town's King Edwards College, spotted the parked car. "It seems a bit daft that the gap has been left really," he said.

Council cabinet member for transport, Councillor Patrick Harley, said: "If there is an obstruction at the time of a marking, it will go onto our programme of works for the team to re-visit in the near future."