ILLEGAL parking in Bewdley has reached epidemic proportions, costing taxpayers a "small fortune" in street repairs and driving at least one resident to criminal damage.

That is the claim of town councillor Paul Gittins who has severely criticised police for failing to tackle the problem of drivers parking on footpaths and in no parking areas. Paul Gittins, who fears illegal parking in Bewdley has reached "epidemic proportions".

He said one Severnside South resident was so irate at finding a van illegally parked outside her home, obstructing the entrance to a courtyard, she smashed the windows.

He claimed it happened following a similar incident of illegal parking the previous day which had prevented an ambulance called for her husband from gaining access.

He said: "This is an extreme example but I can assure you people are very concerned about illegal parking in Bewdley. They have had enough.

"It seems to me illegal parking and parking on the footpaths has a very low priority with the police yet as a councillor I get more complaints about these than anything else."

Mr Gittins added the town was fast becoming a "place of bollards" as the council struggled to stop "lazy" motorists parking on footpaths in the town centre.

He said: "I hold the police responsible for the erection of these bollards because they are failing in their duty to punish those responsible."

He fears bollards will soon be needed around St Anne's Church to protect the new paving slabs which were damaged by cars and outside the town hall to prevent vehicles parking on the small slabs which were "costing a small fortune" to replace.

Mr Gittins also highlighted "inconsiderate" and "selfish" parking opposite the Barclays Bank cash machine in Load Street car park which caused "mayhem" and forced pedestrians to walk in the road to get past vehicles, putting themselves at risk.

Sgt Pete Trueman, of Kidderminster Police, said: "We are aware of parking being a problem in Bewdley, as it is elsewhere.

"In view of Mr Gittins' comments we have instructed the local beat manager PC Nigel Barter to contact him and discuss the situation, before we take any action that may be appropriate."