IT infuriated me after I drove home the other day that I could not manage to find a single empty car parking space near my house.

Without sounding like a drama queen, I must have driven around my area about six times, failing to find an empty parking space.

I live in the heart of Worcester, which is obviously a hotspot for people coming into the city to park their cars. I appreciate car parking fees can be a rip-off these days, so I do not blame anyone for taking advantage of the free parking.

However, my issue is that I – a local resident – can never find an available car parking space near my house.

I understand households do not have the right to tell people not to park on their street. However, I find it annoying how often I have to park far away from where I live, which admittedly can be a trek.

On my street, residents are allowed to park directly outside their house after 5.30pm, as long as they have moved their car before 8.30am the following day.

I am a newbie to driving – I bought my first car last August. Since then I have already been fined twice for parking outside my house after 8.30am. I hold my hand up and admit I deserve the parking fines, but sometimes there is nowhere else to park, so what am I supposed to do? I am fed up of struggling to find a car parking space on a daily basis.

A parking permit scheme has been proposed in my area. A letter was sent out to residents not long ago where we had the option to sign a petition to stop workers outside the city to use the area as a free car park.

From my understanding, the Arboretum in Worcester is the latest area which is subject to a proposal to issue a parking permit for residents. Under the new plan, each household would be allowed three permits, with the first costing £30, the second £40 and the third £60.

Not for one minute do I believe the parking permit scheme will prevent this recurring issue around Worcester. In fact, it will just mean drivers will find another street – one that does not require permits – to park their cars on. Rather than sending drivers to park their car elsewhere in the city and disturb more residents, the solution for this inconvenience would be to offer more affordable parking spaces in Worcester.

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