COUNCILLORS are worried about a new parking problem on a road in Cirencester, just as double yellow lines are due to be painted on several roads in the town.

Hammond Way, just outside Bath Gate Place retirement development, is a busy road with cars coming from the A429 roundabout and from Waitrose to go into the town centre.

But recently, the road has been lined with parked cars and councillors are worried, saying that this has caused congestion and queueing problems.

The problem has come to the fore just as several problematic parking spots in Cirencester - Somerford Road, Sheep Street, Chesterton Lane, Chesterton Park, Cotswold Avenue, Smith's Field and Trinity Road - will finally have double yellow lines painted in October.

According to councillors Joe Harris and Jenny Hincks, there was never a problem on Hammond Way until workers involved in the development of the retirement home nearby, Bath Gate Place, started parking there a few months ago.

County and district councillor Joe Harris said: “We’ve seen workmen parking there and now workers in the town are using that. I think a few people parking there means now more people are using it as a place to park.

“It has been happening for three or four months now. I hope to bring this up with the highways manager in a meeting in September.”

Ward councillor Jenny Hincks, of Cirencester Town Council and Cotswold District Council, said: “I know people are just parking there because there’s no yellow lines. I know it causes congestion especially in the morning when people come from the hospital roundabout and cars are having to queue.

“It’s causing a hazard and causing tailbacks. If there’s a bigger vehicle parked there, it tails back to the dual carriageway.

“There’s never been a problem there before.

“It’s because the vans started parking there which was causing an issue anyway. It was like the parking issue on Somerford Road bridge. One person did it so everyone started doing it. There’s nothing to stop them parking there.

“If it’s not illegal, there’s nothing Highways can do about it.

"Someone also reported a car parked on the corner of Hammond way, because it was parked on the roundabout.”

Jim Daniels, parking manager at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “There are no parking restrictions in place at the moment. However, the county council will listen to any concerns from the town council, businesses and residents and do what we can to help.”