PARKING bosses have been accused of running a "money-making racket" at a disused hospital.

Blackburn's Royal Infirmary has been derelict for 18 months - but parking restrictions which once protected ambulance routes are still being enforced.

People living in the area say they are constantly given tickets for parking near their homes.

Council bosses say a review is underway, but claim the restrictions are still needed as they protect bus routes.

The infirmary has been empty since the opening of the new £113million Royal Blackburn Hospital at Queen's Park in July 2006.

It is set to be demolished to make way for a mult-imillion pound housing development, which recently received planning permission.

Wayne Grunshaw said he had repeatedly written to Blackburn with Darwen council asking them to remove the lines outside his house on Sunnybank Road, which he says cause a parking nightmare for residents of the whole area.

The 42-year-old said: "My wife and I have had two tickets just this week.

"It's diabolical. They are out there every day.

"They were originally put in for the hospital to avoid blocking ambulance routes.

"I could understand it to a certain extent when the hospital was there, but why haven't they taken them away?

"I would have thought they would have removed them by now, but it's just a money-making racket for the council.

"All my neighbours are sick of it. There's no justification whatsoever."

Maureen Bateson, ward councillor for Ewood, said: "It's not that simple to just remove a traffic order. There's a process that takes up to 18 months."

Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said a consultation was underway with residents on future parking rules in the area, but claimed reintroducing parking would block traffic.

He said: "Parking restrictions are put on the highway for a number of reasons.

"The closure of the infirmary does not automatically nullify the validity of the yellow lines.

"The council will always review restrictions if requested by the public and the area will also be looked at as the developments in the area get underway.

"However until the legal order is changed, they will continue to be enforced.

"The main reason is this route is seen as key connector for public transport and although the infirmary has moved, traffic obstruction would occur in this instance."