RESIDENTS in a Darwen road are being driven round the bend by parking problems and an antiques dealer is fuming because his business is getting the blame.

Fed up residents in Percival Street say it is down to the Darwen Antique Centre based in Hollins Grove Mill across from their homes. Now ward Councillor Simon Danczuk, who also lives in Percival Street, has taken up their complaints.

He said: "The Antique Centre has been here for quite some time now and never really caused any problems because a spare piece of land was used for parking purposes.

"This parking area has now been withdrawn by the owners and it is a traffic nightmare."

But the owner of the centre, Mr John Ward, denied that his business caused any parking problems.

He said: "We are not a threat to other traffic. The closure of the car park has upset Councillor Danczuk and he only started complaining after it closed."

Coun Danczuk contacted the planning department at Blackburn with Darwen Council which discovered that the antiques centre had never been given planning permission.

Mr Ward said: "Now I've got to apply for planning permission. I have to pay £190 . I'm not allowed to put up A boards or Tourist Information signs. The closure of the car park was not down to me, it was down to one of the locals."

Peter Kuit, assistant director of technical services said that once Mr Ward applies for permission then residents could voice their concerns about the parking.

He said: "We will take the residents' opinions fully into account when considering the application." A disabled resident who lives in the street said: "Ever since the Antiques Centre came into the street there has been a parking problem. People just park anywhere when they visit the centre.

"My wife and I are disabled and if we are carrying anything back from the car we need to park as near to our house as possible.

"If we can't find a space we have to wait until after 5pm when it is clear so we can bring the car along and unload."

Mr Ward said: "I would very much like to use the land for parking but unfortunately the owner is not interested in renting spaces.

"Anybody can see what the parking situation is like round here, and there certainly is not a problem as far as I'm concerned."

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