Three car parks in Portsmouth offered up to key workers

Privately owned residential parking spaces belonging to three courts in Inverness Road and George Street in Fratton will no longer require permits to allow workers such as nurses, carers and supermarket staff to use them.

Each car park has around 12 spaces, which one resident said were 'barely used.'

Middle Court resident Susan Hunt, 70, said: 'I have lived here 30 years. My car park has 12 spaces and we only have one tenant who uses the car park all the time.

'There are these empty spaces there and none of the people who live in the surrounding streets can use them and if they do they get a ticket with a fine.

'It is a silly situation.'

She added: 'I approached our head of traffic Councillor Lynne Stagg about this and she has told me now that the restrictions have been lifted. I'm waiting to see if I can cover up the signs warning people that they could get fined.

'If you're a key worker, or really anyone who needs a space, please make use of it. You can park here quite safely.

'If it means you have somewhere to park when you get home from a shift and don't have to drive around looking for a space or walk really far afterwards then please use it.

'We live in an area with very limited parking spaces so I imagine lots of key workers struggle to find spaces.'

It comes after Cllr Stagg called for local businesses and schools to open up their car parks to key workers.

All council run parking zones, on-street parking and car parks are currently free to use.