A PARKING scheme which the council has had 18 months to prepare for has been delayed because road signs have not been manufactured.

Controlled parking in Hanover and Elm Grove was scheduled to start yesterday but instead the council website read: “A delay in the manufacturing process of parking signs associated with new controlled parking zones S, V and I have impacted on the sign installation process.”

Meanwhile residents warned new restrictions will cost lives, with roads now too narrow for ambulances to pass.

And some motorists still cannot get parking permits due to software glitches.

One resident described the roll-out as an “absolute shambles.”

The consultation for a permit scheme in the city’s last free parking zone started in March 2016, with the result approved by the transport committee in March of this year and rubber stamped in June.

But last week a website for purchasing permits repeatedly crashed.

And with no metal signs the council had no option but to delay as any fines would have been vulnerable to legal challenge.

Drivers will have a week’s grace and wardens will issue “warning notices” not parking fines.

Brighton and Hove City Council hopes to have all signage installed by Friday.

A spokeswoman said such a ‘soft launch’ was normal.

Hanover resident Jed Harris said: “We have collectively paid them over a quarter of a million pounds for resident permits and they haven’t managed to deliver the service we have paid for. Absolute shambles.”

Online, ward councillor Emma Daniel (Lab) replied to complaints with a clip of a woman drinking wine from the bottle while hiding under her desk, adding: “Me right now, reading feedback.”

She apologised and promised to chase up residents’ complaints.

Ward Councillor Dick Page (Green) told The Argus the glitches in preparation had been undesirable, but said the end of “Brighton’s last big free car park” was welcome.

Milton Road resident Hollie Mather felt and heard a car smash into a parked car on Elm Grove this weekend.

She said she was “only surprised it had taken this long” and said the second row of parking bays added on the northern side of the street had made it more dangerous.

She said last week an ambulance was delayed until one driver got out of his car to stop traffic one way so the ambulance could pass.

“Someone’s either going to have a crash and hurt themselves, or they’re going to end up dying because an ambulance can’t get to them as quickly,” she said.

Tony Janio, Conservative group leader, said: “Labour can’t even organise a parking scheme: Clueless. Incompetent. Hopeless.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “There is room for ambulance access on Elm Grove with parking on both sides, and this has been assessed by road safety officers.

“However the roadworks at the bottom of Elm Grove have had an impact on access so we have suspended parking one side of the road until the works have finished. At the same time we will again review the parking arrangements with the road safety team.

“The website is working for most applications and the majority of parking permits have now been sent out . We are advising residents that if the system does not work to come into Hove customer service centre or call us on 01273 296622 and staff will help with their application.”