RESIDENTS at the end of their tether with traffic problems are appealing to councillors to turn the green, green grass of home into parking bays.

Members of Laneside Residents' Association, Accrington, are fed up with their cars being clipped and mirrors being knocked off when they are parked outside their own homes in Hawksworth Road and have asked Hyndburn council for help.

Residents have proposed that parking bays are set up on either side of the road where there are currently grass verges.

Nicholas Phillips, secretary of the residents' association, said: "We have already asked for control of the maintenance budget for trees, hedges and general cleanliness as we feel we could do a better job than the council.

"And by replacing the verges on the roadside with proper parking spaces we would be able to reduce the amount of grass areas which need attention.

"At the moment it is virtually impossible for HGVs to get to the factory at the bottom and, although we don't particularly want them going past our houses to get there anyway, it would be better if there was a clear route.

"What we are proposing would be the sensible approach to get vehicles straight down the road rather than them having to zig zag past cars and trees as they are doing now."

In addition to the access for HGVs to M and F Components and Hambledon Studios, on Marlborough Road, Mr Phillips also raised concerns about access for emergency vehicles to the road and whether or not they would be able to get there quickly enough.

He said: "In a real emergency they would probably just have to plough through regardless of cars in the way, but that is not really cost effective." Residents who attended last month's Laneside Residents' Association meeting agreed to pursue the matter, but not everyone is in agreement.

Hyndburn Coun Paul Travis said: "This is a contentious issue as it seems about half of the residents want parking bays outside their property while others are happy with it as it is with the grass there because it does look nice.

"I have the greatest sympathy with the residents who have complained but the roads are just not made to take families with two or three cars. It is the prosperity of people today which is causing a problem."

John Schofield, technical manager for Hyndburn Borough Council's highways department, confirmed that the matter was being looked into.