HOMEOWNERS have been left outraged amid claims that people without parking permits are dumping cars on their road.

It comes amid an increase in drivers leaving vehicles on both sides on Davey Drive, in Hollingdean, in recent weeks.

People living in the Davey Drive and Horton Road area have complained of smashed wing mirrors, limited visibility for children walking to school and lack of parking near their homes.

There have also been problems for buses on the number 50 route.

Horton Road and Hollingdean Road are on an app which tells people where they can park for free in Brighton.

Neighbours have now taken to social media to demand double-yellow lines or parking restrictions.

Labour councillor Theresa Fowler claims the extra cars may be the result of displacement from a new controlled parking zone in Surrenden Road.

She said: “The parking has only got worse recently. There are several reasons for it getting bad recently and that has to do with Hollingdean being advertised as a free car park.

“So it could be that people who used to park in Surrenden and Coombe Road are now using Hollingdean.

“Also, recently the students have arrived back in Brighton, although the student housing in Hollingdean Road is meant to be car-free. I feel sure that the students have realised they can park in Davey Drive.

“There are also reports of someone parking a work van overnight and at weekends and then getting into a car.

“So this is also possibly related to the increase in having a second car or van and so, rather than paying for two permits, they are using Hollingdean to park for free.

“I believe things are getting dangerous all over Hollingdean as cars are now parking dangerously on every corner at Hollingbury Rise as well.”

The Argus: People living on Davey Drive are outraged over people dumping their carsPeople living on Davey Drive are outraged over people dumping their cars

Cllr Fowler, who represents Hollingdean and Stanmer ward, said her family have experienced the problem first hand.

Her husband was on a bus that could not get up Davey Drive because parked cars blocked the way.

She has taken up the issue with Brighton and Hove City Council’s highways and parking teams, pushing for action before a parking scheme consultation planned for February.

However council officials told her that they could not take action against people parking on the verges.

And any future double yellow lines would have to go through a three-week consultation process but officials appeared to wait for the controlled parking zone consultation in February.

People living in the area appear to prefer a “light touch” scheme, with restrictions in place for an hour twice a day, to prevent people from leaving their vehicles for days or even weeks.

One of the people directly affected is Davey Drive resident Sam Burgess who said that she struggled to park her van near her home now more cars were in the area.

She said: “I have one van which I can never find a space for. I’ve watched loads of buses get stuck at the bottom, even with bus drivers having to get off and direct other traffic to get out of the way.

“Surely, while we wait for the consultation in February, the council can paint double yellows on that side? They did it on the corner of Horton Road (and) Davey Drive to stop people parking there.”

Horton Road and Hollingdean Road are listed on the Road Trip Heroes website and app, alerting drivers to free parking in Brighton and Hove.

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