RESIDENTS living near a hospital could be given permits to ease parking problems.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is proposing to introduce the permits in seven streets around the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS) in Hartshill, and restrict waiting times in eight streets.

It comes after years of complaints from people living nearby, who say staff and visitors at the hospital regularly park outside their homes.

People in Quarry Road, Quarry Avenue, West Avenue, Watson Street, Harris Street, Frederick Avenue and some homes in Oxford Street will be able to apply for the permits, with costs starting from £15 annually.

After that, only motorists displaying the passes will be able to park in certain stretches of the street between 8am and 9pm, Monday to Saturday.

Each of the streets, and part of Hartshill Road, will also have new restrictions.

Residents on the streets told The Sentinel of their problems.

Retired painter and decorator Peter Banks, aged 67, from Quarry Avenue, said: "We struggle to get out of our driveway. "Some people park for 10 hours a day. It wouldn't be too bad if they were a bit more considerate but they often park and leave a big gap between the car and the kerb making the road narrower."

Rob Morley, a 39-year-old builder, of Quarry Road, said: "I've got double yellow lines outside my house now but people don't seem to understand them.

"On the other side of the road there are flashes on the pavement to indicate no waiting but a lot of people with disabled badges seem to think they can park there.

"This and taxis waiting just clogs up the whole road and you've got an ambulance stuck behind you with its lights on."

Hartshill and Penkhull councillor Randy Conteh has worked with residents to help relieve their problems.

He said: "We have been chasing this problem for a number of years now.

"I am sure that people who live in the particular streets will manage to find a parking space outside their house or on the street itself now."

A UHNS spokesman said staff had worked closely with councillors and residents on parking issues around the Royal Infirmary and supported the city council measures.

She added: "Parking spaces on all the trust's sites are designated to provide a balance for all its users – staff, visitors, disabled and drop-off spaces.

"Additional car parking has recently been provided at the Royal Infirmary with the creation of a new car park in place of the demolished headquarters building and the trust's cancer services have recently moved into the new Cancer Centre at the City General.

"Both of these measures have eased the pressure on parking at the Royal Infirmary for both staff and visitors."

Motorists who use the hospital car parks are charged £2 for up to four hours, £4 for four to eight hours or £6 for eight to 24 hours.

A concessionary weekly permit is available for those visiting on a daily basis in excess of seven days and for patients who are attending for daily treatment over an extended period of time. The permit provides unlimited car parking over a seven-day period for a fixed fee of £3.40. Staff also get reduced rate permits.

Dates when the permits will be introduced are not yet known.