BATTLE lines are being drawn alongside double yellows on the streets of the city’s last uncontrolled parking zone.

Restrictions and permits will replace the current free for all in Hanover and Elm Grove, Brighton, in October and residents have strong opinions on both sides of the argument.

Several streets where cars park bumper to bumper down both sides of the road, leaving only a single car’s width, are now being marked with bays on one side and double-yellows on the other.

Brighton and Hove City Council insists the decision to halve the available parking bays on those roads is for the sake of emergency access.

Some residents are strongly in favour while others saythe scheme, the subject of a lengthy public consultation and passed by the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee in June, is to make money.

In Washington Street and elsewhere in the Hanover and Elm Grove areas, known locally as Muesli Mountain, cars currently have dispensation to park on the double yellow lines which have been painted down one side.

A council spokeswoman said: “This is because the road will not be wide enough for parking both sides and access for emergency vehicles. Restricting parking to one side only provides room for emergency vehicles to gain more direct access to properties in the street.”

She said the authority had not calculated how many parking spaces would be lost under the yellow paint.

Jeannette Philpott, 48, a teacher who lives in the ward, said: “I’ve seen fire engines get stuck, I’ve seen them having to bump cars out of the way.

“For me that’s the most important thing.

“These roads are just not wide enough for double-parking.”

Jade Jackson, who works at Happy Days Nursery at the foot of Southover Street, said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea.

“We’re a business and there’s six or seven of us who drive but we’re only entitled to three permits.

“And we’re in the whole-day zone so this will affect parents picking up kids at the end of the day.”

Holly White, who lives in Belgrave Street, said: “It’s bad you can park on both sides.

“And drivers never want to back up.

“I’ve had to listen to people arguing in the street, at least this will stop all that.”

But Derek Wasmith, of Hanover, said: “It’s going to affect people day to day and then on top of that you’ve got to pay them for your life getting harder.

“They’ve been trying to do this for years.

“It’s a war of attrition they’ve won by getting wealthy Londoners who have moved here to vote for it.”