RESIDENTS-only parking could obe introduced in

Clitheroe in a bid to calm anger at a new clampdown on rogue motorists.

Until now, householders living around Clitheroe town centre have been able to park outside their homes 24 hours a day, despite the bays having a two-hour time limit.

From next month, however, council-employed parking attendants are set to take over enforcement from the police and make sure regulations are adhered to.

For residents in the centre of Clitheroe, that will mean not being able to park in front of their homes between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.

A petition to Ribble Valley Council about the issue was passed on to Lancashire County Council, which is co-ordinating the new enforcement operation.

Initially, Lancashire County Council refused to consider a parking scheme for residents, but after a heated public meeting earlier this week, engineers have agreed to reconsider it.

Ribble Valley Council's engineering manager Graham Jagger told the meeting there had been little enforcement of on street parking restrictions in Clitheroe for some time.

"This has led to regular non-compliance with parking restrictions, which has taken space intended for short-term parking out of use," he said.

"There has also been frequent abuse of double yellow lines and loading bays, which has created congestion and road safety problems.

"Consistent enforcement will make more on-street parking spaces available and improve road safety.

"If people park correctly, they will not be affected."

Council leader John Hill, who chaired the meeting, said: "Whichever way you look at this, these changes are going to happen.

"This is a serious issue and I appreciate residents are concerned.

"I have requested a full report on the possibility of residents-only parking. The council wants to work with residents, not against them, and adopt a pragmatic approach to this issue."

A further meeting on decriminalised parking enforcement will take place Longridge Civic Hall on Wednesday, September 1, at 7pm.