PARKING issues in streets around Worcestershire Royal Hospital are getting worse and posing a safety risk for pedestrians, concerned residents say.

Warndon Villages residents say on-road parking is causing a variety of issues and are calling for action to tackle the problems.

Mike O'Sullivan, of Rowntree Gardens, said that the situation on his road, and others nearby, has "deteriorated considerably" in recent months.

He believes part of the problem is that hospital staff are parking in the streets and walking into work.

He says the parking is causing a number of issues, with residents struggling to manoeuvre out of their driveways and cars on pavements forcing pedestrians to dangerously walk in the road.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Roads are narrow and twisty – they are not designed to support large amounts of on-road parking.

"Parking on these roads in number hinders or completely blocks driveway access. Parking in the numbers now experienced turns these roads into dangerous places to travel around.

"There are various solutions to solve the problems, which all need to be looked at."

James Richards, from Malvern, contacted the Worcester News about the issues in the streets around nearby Perry Manor Care Home, in Charles Hastings Way.

"I nearly got run over there recently because of the cars parked there – it is dangerous for pedestrians," Mr Richards said.

"There is also not very much space for emergency vehicles to get through.

"People park there to use the hospital so that they do not have to pay and I have sympathy for them but it is very inconsiderate to others to be parking here."

County councillor Andy Roberts says he fears parking issues in the area are getting worse.

"I have been working on this for a while, and I have found it is a complicated issue," Cllr Roberts said.

"I have asked the county council to survey people who are parking on the roads to find out where they are going.

"It is not just hospital staff and patients – some are office workers – but there are capacity problems at the hospital.

"A long term possible solution is building a multi-story car park, but that wouldn't completely solve the problem as inevitably there would be charge, and some people wouldn't want to pay."

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust statement said: “We are aware of this issue and are working to make sure staff and visitors park in allocated areas.”

Sheila Roberts, spokesman for Care UK which manages Perry Manor, said: "The access road needs to be kept clear so that emergency vehicles like ambulances can get through quickly and safely.

"We’ve found that drivers who are not associated with our care home have taken to parking on this road. Sadly, the road is not owned by Care UK, so there is little that we can do other than appeal to people’s good nature."