RESIDENTS in Barry Island are calling for action after becoming increasingly frustrated by visitors hogging the seaside's streets to avoid car parking charges.

Homeowners have warned that an accident is likely to happen if people park irresponsibly in Redbrink Crescent, Earle Crescent, Friars Road and Dyfrig Street.

One reported an emergency vehicle was hampered by motorists parking near the Island View care home and ward councillor, Steffan Wiliam said the council was "burying its head in the sand" on the issue.

But the Vale council said it is working to address concerns.

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Barry Island resident, Mike Dunn said: “There has been a problem, on Redbrink Crescent, by the footpath to Jackson’s Bay to the junctions with Friars Road in one direction, and Dyfrig Street in the other, since the lockdown.

“Due to the parking on both sides of the road, normal vehicles have difficult passing each other, and if there are large vans or lorries it is nigh impossible.

“A stationary delivery vehicle creates mayhem.

“There has always been a problem here, but since the lockdown it is worse.

“With council car parks closed then, visitors to the Island found free places to park, and since then have returned."

He added: “The only solutions are to make it one way from the Friars Road junction to the Dyfrig Street junction or to the Triangle.

“Restricted parking periods – two-hour maximum for non-residents – might also work."

Friars Road resident, Barrie Evans said: “Every time we have a multitude of hot weather and sunshine and on bank holidays some of these motorists park in an unacceptable and dangerous manner.

“We, the residents, are totally brassed-off with people parking like this just to avoid a £6 tariff in local car parks.

“They obstruct driveways they park on the corners of junctions grass verges roundabouts and they have even resorted to overnight stays in campervans.

“There was so much obstruction on the kerbsides at entry points on Friars Road that an ambulance trying to get to the Island View Care home had straddle the middle of the road as it was almost impassable in places.

“The council have been informed on numerous occasions over the last 10 years they have failed to act.

“There is a serious accident waiting to happen here."

Baruc Vale and town councillor, Steffan Wiliam said he and ward colleagues councillors Nic and Shirley Hodges had consistently called for residential parking on the residential side of roads such as Redbrink Crescent, Friars Road and Plymouth Road and to apply this in other parts of Barry such as The Knap, the Waterfront and the Garden Suburb.

He said: "We’ve worked really hard for a long time to get the council to prioritise this part of Barry so it’s good to see that of the five areas where the council has committed to do this much needed work, two of them are in the ward we represent.

"However, despite announcing that the issue of parking will be addressed at long last, the cabinet has remained tight-lipped as to what measures it intends to implement and they have failed to respond to my emails so far requesting meetings and clarification of their plans.

"We need to know whether they intend to implement our recommendations, whether this will be backed up with strict enforcement and when they intend to it.

"We also need to see whether they have addressed other issues raised by us such as putting double yellow lines on the other side of the road or restricting it to two hour waiting.

"Double yellow lines would help prevent cars backing up along Redbrink Crescent and the Mexican stand-offs we have seen between emergency vehicles and cars and prevent the need to turn these roads into one-way systems."

He added: "It’s ludicrous that it’s taken so long for anything to be done and their lack of response so far is not good enough.

"I have also drawn their attention to the measures they need to take in the future.

"As well as improving access to the Island by public transport, provision must be made for additional parking and I believe that a multi-storey car park on the existing site is the way forward.

"The council cannot bury its head in the sand.

"Residents have suffered the inconvenience and accompanying anti-social behaviour for far too long – this is an issue that will not go away.”

A Vale of Glamorgan council spokesman said: “The council is aware that problem parking is an issue in certain areas of the Vale and is proposing measures to tackle it in six locations, including Barry Island.

“Discussions on implementing residential permit parking will shortly take place with those living in affected areas.

“This could see parking permits issued to residents on application and anyone parking in these areas without one facing enforcement action.

“If implemented, council enforcement officers will then patrol these locations and issue fixed penalty notices to anyone not abiding by the new regulations.”