A DISABLED man has accused the Vale of Glamorgan council of causing him to have a heart attack by removing his ability to park outside his home.

Great grandad Alan Roberts, 65, and neighbours at Elfed Way, Cadoxton were left baffled earlier this year when 28 bollards were built on the grass verge they have always used for parking - leaving the mostly elderly residents unable to leave their vehicles in front of their homes and having to park in the surrounding streets.

Now, faced with a walk up a steep hill when he returns from doing his shopping, Alan says the heart attack he suffered last month was a direct result of the strain placed upon him by the Vale council.

Alan, who suffers from arthritis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had returned from a shopping trip and became ill after lugging two heavy bags up the hill to his bungalow on Monday, August 17.

Getting straight into bed that afternoon, he took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Tuesday morning and alerted a neighbour who called an ambulance.

He spent seven days in hospital having suffered a heart attack, being discharged early last week. Alan said that he believes the mental strain of trying to get the council to reverse their decision and the physical strain of not being able to park outside his home lead to the incident.

The Vale council had told residents that "in light of the feedback" they received that they would be "reviewing the decision and seeking to work with local residents to try and find a solution that meets everyone’s needs.”

Alan said: "I've been down there every week and nothing has happened. I'm very disappointed and I am angry about it, I mean this could have been the end of me."

Alan said that the heart attack has put him off the idea of making trips in his car, faced with the daunting prospect of climbing the hill to his house.

Earlier this year the council explained that the bollards were installed to "prevent dangerous parking on the grass verge at the end of Elfed Way, which, as well as damaging the public green space, was also obstructing the narrow road."

A spokeswoman for the Vale council said that they are still considering how to proceed regarding the potential removal of the bollards.

"The Council has consulted residents on the issue and is in the process of finding alternatives," she said.

"We are awaiting further information about prices from the relevant companies but once we have that information we will consult with residents once again before removing or replacing the bollards."