COUNCIL bosses have been slammed for changing the rules because they could not get their own way over a controversial parking plan.

Plans for a residents' only scheme in streets around Burnley General Hospital had to be pulled earlier this year because they were supported by less than 90 per cent of the residents affected.

But now that Burnley Council rule looks set to be changed to 75 per cent so officials and councillors get their way.

And, in a bid to reach the required level of support, the council is assuming anyone who did not reply to consultation letters is in favour of the plans.

The move has been criticised by residents and motorists' group the RAC Foundation, which said it was unfair.

A report set to go before the council's executive committee next week recommends the change because of the need for a solution to parking chaos.

Residents claim the streets around Burnley General Hospital have been a nightmare for years with parking spaces outside their homes being taken up by hospital staff and visitors.

But moves to address these concerns have run into controversy because the council intends to charge for the scheme - £15 a year for the first car and £25 for any other vehicle - to cover administration.

The council wants to designate three areas -- Phase A: Killington Street, Mansergh Street and part of Briercliffe Road; Phase B: Hind Street, and Phase C: Fleetwood Road -- as 'residents only'.

In Phase A 69 per cent of people who replied are in favour and 31 per cent against. In Phase B, 80 per cent are in favour and 20 per cent against and in Phase C 65 per cent want the scheme and 35 per cent are against.

Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said: "There are always going to be winners and losers in any such scheme, but other options could be looked at rather than putting the onus and burden on residents and making them pay to park in their own streets."

"And for the council to assume people who haven't taken part in the consultation are in favour is most unfair."

Michael Hargreaves, 58, of Hind Street, said: "This is a typical example of the council moving the goalposts to suit themselves. Something does need to be done, but why should we have to pay for it ourselves? That is how most of the residents feel about this."

Another resident, of Killington Street, who asked not to be named, said: "I object to the fact that I would have to pay to park outside my own house and I thought that was why I paid council tax and road tax. Some people in Burnley will get to park outside their house for free, whereas because I live near a hospital I have to pay to park."

Coun Denis Otter, the council's executive member for transport, said: "Parking around the hospital has been a problem for many years. The council and the hospital have been working closely together to find a solution, of which the controlled parking zone is one of them.

"Initial resident consultation asked for 90 per cent acceptance rate, however in practice we have found this is unachievable. The report suggests reducing the acceptance rate to 75 per cent, which is still a sizeable majority.

"In this consultation, officers found that the majority of objectors were in favour of the scheme, however they did not agree with paying for the permits."

Lanehead councillor Paula Riley said: "It will be brilliant if this is introduced, the sooner the better. Hopefully this will help sort out some of the problems we have seen for so long.

"It's not like the cost is huge, in fact it's the cheapest parking in Burnley. £15 is less than 30p a week."