PARKING problems in Hyndburn could be eased if plans to change the criteria for residents permits are approved.

Hyndburn Borough Council's scrutiny committee will discuss the issue at the next meeting before putting forward suggestions to the cabinet.

Current rules state that at least 80 per cent of parking spaces on the road must be unavailable to residents for permits to be issued but Coun Tony Dobson, chairman of the scrutiny committee, wants this to change. He said: "It seems silly that if there is a problem in one section of the road, nothing can be done because the whole road is not affected."

In his Barnfield ward, residents in Limefield Street, Barnfield Street and the top of Sandy Lane have complained about college students and lecturers parking outside their homes.

But as the problem is only in front of the college and adjoining streets it does not come under the criteria to apply for resident only parking permits.

Coun Dobson said: "This has been a problem for at least five years and something needs to be done. We need disk parking for those residents. If elderly people have been out shopping they often don't have the energy to walk long distances when they get back.

"One of them even told me that he finds it easier to park his vehicle in the college car park during the day and move it later.

"This is just laziness on the part of students and lecturers because it is easier for them to park on the street as the volume of traffic makes it difficult to get out of the car park at peak times."

Adequate parking is now available at the rear of the Sandy Lane site of Accrington and Rossendale College for students and an additional 40 spaces were also created at the beginning of this year's term.

There is also a front car park with a daytime attendant to direct people to available spaces and a Green Travel Plan has recently been introduced to encourage the use of alternative methods of transport.

" However, in situations where students parking their car on Sandy Lane have caused problems for residents, and we are made aware of these problems, we make every effort to locate the vehicle's owner and and request they move it on to the college car park.

"The college encourages and values open dialogue with all areas of the community and would be happy to meet residents and councillors to discuss the matter."