Police pledge blitz on bad New Cross Hospital parking

Campaigners have welcomed the crackdown but have called for officers to take 'very strong action' to stop the roads getting clogged after police said they would use 'discretion'.

Residents have been complaining for years about cars parking in Prestwood Road, Bramerton Close and Wolverhampton Road.

They have campaigned for restrictions to be brought in - but the city council claims there is not enough public support.

Now Sgt Martin Hewitt from Heath Town Police says officers will issue fines 'for parking dangerously on the corners of junction and parking on the footpath, making the footpath impassable to wheelchair/pushchair users'.

But he adds: "An element of discretion will be applied to vehicles parked on footpaths as long as wheelchair/pushchair users can pass safely, and the parking reduces congestion in the main carriageway."

Ward councillor Milkinder Jaspal, who has called for parking meters to be installed, said: "I can understand using discretion but I would urge the police to take very strong action with bad parking.

"There is no excuse for it, especially on the corner of the roads, which blocks the footpaths and also access to people's homes.

"Sometimes it is difficult for a single person to get along a pavement, never mind a pushchair."

A meeting will be held in the new year between residents, councillors. highways officials and the police to discuss the issue.

Lynn Mallin, who organised a demonstration last month where residents blocked the road, said the problem was 'worse then ever'.

She said: "It's fantastic if the police can issue fines as it might put other drivers off but we are just very keen to get something done about it."

She said people in the street were afraid to leave their homes, in case they could not park when they returned.

Mrs Mallin, a 42-year-old charity worker, said Wolverhampton Council had carried out a consultation into the possibility of introducing a residents' parking permit scheme in the road, but said there was insufficient support.

The council has previously said it is looking to see if there are any alternative measures to a permit scheme.

Councillor Jaspal added: "I am continuing to contact the highways department and ask them to look into the possibility of parking meters, as we have never had any in Wolverhampton outside of the city centre."

But Mrs Mallin said residents were concerned they end up paying to park outside their own homes.