RESIDENTS and business owners have expressed frustration and confusion at failed attempts to deal with commuter parking chaos around Petersfield Station.

Rail passengers trying to avoid paying £7 a day at the station have taken to using adjacent streets, blocking in residents and restricting access to business entrances.

Parking signs in Bedford Road warning of a £100 fine for drivers not displaying either a valid pay and display ticket or parking permit have proved ineffective as there are no such schemes to enforce.

The signs are now set to be removed after it emerged the firm responsible for them may have put them in the wrong place.

Dave Gearey, of Petersfield Motor Company in Bedford Road, said: “They make no difference, people don’t even look at them, the company said they’re just a deterrent anyway and won’t be enforced.

“We’ve had to replace our fence about five times now because the lorries can’t turn down the road so they end up smashing into it.”

Director of Capital 2 Coast Parking, which installed the signs, Gavin Price said: “There was never any enforcement planned, they’re all coming down anyway until we get sent better plans showing where we can put them.”

Residents in nearby Rushes Road also expressed frustration at the obstruction caused by commuters, with one man resorting to moving his wheelie bins into the street to prevent the front of his house being blocked.

Jack Botha said: “My wife is pregnant and when she comes back it’s impossible to park. I do wonder why there isn’t a parking permit system especially for the road right next to the station.”

Another resident Dave Meadows said a car parked half way across his drive was an example of the issue.

He said: “It’s a real problem; the other day I was completely blocked in and almost missed a day’s work.

“My neighbour is in a wheelchair and has a disabled bay marked on the road but cars still park right across it.”