RESIDENTS frustrated by cars left in their roads, careless parking in The Square, and the condition of the central car park in Petersfield, a meeting has heard.

The November East Hampshire District Council community forum meeting attracted about 50 residents, who said they felt that parking on residential roads in the town was a major problem.

But those who wanted specific answers to parking issues in their roads had their questions left unanswered, say some who were there.

Poor drainage in the central car park and it’s overall condition has left Barham Road resident Tom Norgate distinctly unimpressed.

After the meeting he said: “We were told that for the next year safety issues were the priority, I think people felt shoved off, not listened to.

“And the condition of the car park is terrible, it’s time it was sorted it out

“I raised the issue of flooding on the path from Barham Road into the car park, as I have done a few times in the past three years, and I was told it would be sorted out by Christmas. But we shall see.”

One road pinpointed with parking problems at the meeting in the Penns Place council chamber was Buckingham Road.

Council parking and traffic manager Emma Pond replied that Buckingham Road and Bedford Road had been listed for safety improvement work in the next year.

And problem parking in The Square has been made worse by motorists driving too fast through it residents said.

In response, they were told a five year parking strategy is being compiled that should help balance the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.

But with the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan guideline for a minimum of 700 new homes in the town by 2028, parking problems are predicted to continue.

The plan says multi-story car parks at the station and in the Tesco car park, would help.

Richard Besant was the chairman of the plan committee, and is now a member of the Petersfield Development Committee.

He said: “Something needs to be done, the money needs to be found to build the multi-story car parks.”