Residents of a home for the elderly are celebrating this week after securing parking for staff, visitors and ambulance crews following years of campaigning.

On Tuesday the town council performed a U-turn, deciding to support a legal stopping order – without condition – that will turn seven public parking spaces into private parking for use by Glovers Court.

The council was heavily criticised after it initially placed a condition on its support for the legal order that private land nearby at Katifer Lane become public highway to replace the parking, resulting in costly delays to the application.

Anna Haggerty, joint chair of Glovers Court residents’ committee, said: “We are thrilled. We never thought we would see the day because it’s been going on for so long.

“When we told the care home residents this morning they couldn’t believe it – it’s wonderful news.

“I hope the local residents get Katifer Lane sorted out because from that point of view we would all benefit.”

Coun Kim Power, who sits on the committee and is in support of passing the order, said: “It’s our job to provide as much parking for the wider community as we can, but this is displaced parking.

“The people at Glovers Court need these parking spaces. It’s within our power to assist them.

“Whatever the issues are at Katifer Lane it should have no effect on our granting this stopping order to Glovers Court; the people at Glovers Court have a greater need.”

Coun Aimee Frankham, who spent 10 years working on a private and commercial basis dealing with Highways issues, and was not at the initial planning meeting, said: “I have had an opportunity to look at this independently of any bias and I have to say that professionally, having considerable experience, I can state that the two cannot be linked.

“I would like to propose that we address this issue now this evening and decide to support the stopping order unreservedly without conditions.”

Planning committee chairman Bill Blake summed up the council’s initial decision and said: “We set out on this particular avenue with the very best of intentions.

“We are not experienced in legal matters and we have heard from Aimee Frankham some things that we were not aware of.”

Coun Vernon seconded Coun Frankham’s proposal and the vote was carried through.