LONG-SUFFERING residents are celebrating after restrictions have been introduced on streets near Rowley Regis train station to stop inconsiderate parking by commuters.

People living in Douglas Road, Birchfield Drive, Elm Drive and Fairfield Road, were fed up of commuters parking on both sides of their streets all day making it difficult for other vehicles to pass.

Now they are delighted as Dudley Council has put in new parking restrictions.

The restrictions, introduced after calls from local councillors Parmjit Sahota and Hilary Bills, state cars can't park on one side of the roads from 11am till noon and on the other side from 1pm till 2pm from Monday to Friday - meaning people can't leave their cars in the streets all day.

Council enforcement officers have already been out and about patrolling the area and have issued a number of tickets.

Halesowen North councillor Parmjit Sahota said: "For the last couple of years, more and more train users have decided to park on nearby roads instead of using the station car park.

"Cars were parking on both sides of the roads, making it difficult for larger vehicles like bin lorries and ambulances to get through.

"I spoke to people and some train users said they find it difficult to get out of the train station car park because of the volume of traffic there are often queues - but there are spaces on the car park and it is free for people to use.

"The new road line markings were recently completed, meaning commuters can no longer leave their cars all day and the roads are safe again for local residents.

"The council has sent enforcement officers out and they have given people flouting the restrictions tickets.

"The residents are delighted."

Cllr Sahota said a portion of Nimmings Road has also had double yellow lines installed.

Dudley Council officers were shown first-hand the road safety issues posed by inconsiderate parking on the narrow residential roads on a site visit organised by cllr Sahota and his fellow ward councillor Hilary Bills last November.

Resident Neville Turner said: “We are grateful for the hard work undertaken by councillor Bills and councillor Sahota and to the council for listening to our concerns and making our roads safer again.”