CAMPAIGNING residents in rural and town centre Darwen have claimed victories amid allegations of inconsiderate parking close to the town’s health centre and along a village route.

Residents living in Tockholes Road had complained to the borough council over ‘indiscriminate parking’ by health staff using the nearby Darwen Health Centre beside their homes.

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Cllr Maureen Bateson, executive member of regeneration, has agreed to extend a ‘no waiting’ prohibition along Tockholes Road as part of a series of traffic regulation changes.

Brian Bailey, the council’s regeneration director, said in a report that the residents’ request appeared to be justified, on further examination of the problem.

Currently there are parking restrictions on St James Street West, beside the health centre, but double yellow lines in Tockholes Road only extend to the junction of Reservoir Street.

One villager in Belmont complained to the authority that her car had been damaged while it was parked on Naylors Terrace, off the A675 High Street.

An approach had been made to introduce a residents-only parking scheme, amid concerns that the street, beside the entrance to the Black Bull pub, was too narrow to support parking along both sides.

But Mr Bailey said: “The council will only consider this type of scheme where there is a nearby source of extensive parking demand, such as a hospital. It would not be appropriate when the demand is mostly created by residents themselves, as seems to be the case here.”

Cllr Bateson has now approved alternative proposals to introduce ‘no waiting’ signs on the north side of the terrace, which is effectively a cul-de-sac, running parallel with South View.

Three letters of objections were received to the suggestions and one letter in support.