COMMUTERS and householders are having stand-up rows over parking issues in streets near a major employer.

The residents in Taunton claim:

  • They can’t park outside their homes;
  • Cars have been damaged as there isn’t enough space for other vehicles to get through;
  • Waste collections are missed because the road is inaccessible to the trucks;
  • A fence was knocked down by a truck.

Over 100 people have signed a petition calling for action, and 80 attended a meeting on Monday to discuss problems in Musgrove Road, Belmont Road and parts of Galmington Road.

Some workers leaving their cars there in the day are employed at nearby Musgrove Park Hospital, where bosses know of the concerns.

District councillor Justine Baker said: “Residents have had enough of having nowhere to park in roads blocked by commuters.

“There’s utter dismay at the parking hell they have to put up with.”

A Belmont Road resident said: “I’ve witnessed major rows when residents catch nurses parking outside their houses.

“I’m annoyed that my own mother can never park outside when she comes round.”
Mrs Baker is calling on Somerset County Council to take action.

A County Hall spokesman said: “When we took on responsibility for on-street parking enforcement [from Taunton Deane Council], it was agreed there’d be no changes until the new system had been running a while.

“However, we’ll consider introducing resident parking zones, but only where the local community is clearly by a majority in favour.”

Musgrove bosses are to meet councillors and the police to discuss the problem.

A hospital spokeswoman said: “We’ll explore ways the hospital can support the local authority to find a solution to the parking problems facing local residents.”

A Somerset Waste Partnership spokesman said they had problems and crews sometimes had to return later or on another day.

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