Parking fury for residents

Paul Braniff (34) complained that the street is turning into a single-lane because people are parking their cars at both sides of the road.

A Tesco delivery lorry hit Mr Braniff’s Ford Mondeo, causing considerable damage to the car.

Adding insult to injury, the courtesy car provided to him by Tesco while his own car was getting repaired was also damaged by a passing vehicle.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it. The person who hit the courtesy car just drove on. These problems have actually got worse since the roadworks were completed. The top of the street is just a bottle-neck, and it’s no surprise that cars are being damaged.

“The roadworks have made the road surface a lot better, but that was not the main problem. The problem that the residents are concerned about most is the parking."

Mr Braniff said there was considerable support in the area for residents-only parking.

He said: “I have spoken to various councillors at various times about this and advised them as to the way forward that would improve lives for the residents, the Cash and Carry delivery workers and the other road users in Lurgan.

"We would like to see residents-only parking on one side of the road and double yellow lines on the Cash and Carry side. This has been done in the Markets area of Belfast, as well as in London, so there’s no excuse for it not being done here. There’s plenty of room in the train station car park, so there’s no reason why our street has to be blocked up all the time.

”Most days when I come home from work I can’t even park outside my own home, which I think is totally unfair. I personally would not have a problem paying 40 to ensure I could park outside my own front door when I got home, and I’m sure a lot of other residents feel the same way.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Regional Development said: “Roads Service has received a request to consider waiting restrictions and residents parking in this area and we will assess the location using the current criteria."