Residents have launched a petition against Wiltshire Council plans for new double yellow lines in Quemerford because they say it will cause parking chaos.

The petition in Quemerford Post Office has been signed by more than 50 residents within a week, against plans to increase parking restrictions around Stockley Lane.

The plans were developed by council highway officers as part of a six-week consultation about proposals to introduce and amend waiting restrictions across the whole of Calne.

They will affect many residents in Quemerford who have no parking outside their house, including community psychiatrist nurse Annabel Smyth.

Miss Smyth, who lives on the main A4 road, said: “Everyone is very careful not to inconvenience the neighbours but taking all of that parking away is going to cause chaos.

“All those people who park there are going to have to park somewhere else, those cars are not just going to go away.

“I think they would be better to use the money to fund traffic calming measures.”

Dhiresh Vaya, who took over Quemerford Post Office nine weeks ago, said although the proposals would not affect his business many people were upset by them.

He said: “We started the petition this week and straight away people have been signing up.

“There’s nowhere for them to park, it doesn’t make any sense. If you have a car and they give you no parking space, where do you go?”

Highway officers will make the final decision on new parking restrictions based on comments from the consultation, and will decide on priority areas.

Alan Hill, Wiltshire councillor for Calne South and Cherhill, said there had been several accidents on the A4 at Quemerford over the years, and a vehicle once hit a house on the corner of Stockley Lane.

He said: “It’s quite a busy road and to have vehicles parked there at the moment is causing a danger. If people park in that area they have to be in breach of the Highway Code.

“Vehicles should not be parked within ten metres of a junction and they shouldn’t park where they will obstruct dropped kerbs or obstruct people’s access into their property.

“I’m well aware the problem is not going to go away and it may go somewhere else. I’m not saying it’s the right answer, I’m saying highways team believe it’s an appropriate thing to do.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We are consulting on these waiting restrictions after Calne Town Council identified areas where parking is causing problems for road users and the emergency services. Area board councillors have also been involved in the consultation process.

“These restrictions are not intended to reduce the speed of traffic, and are not in response to a particular incident.”

To see plans for parking restrictions in Calne, visit http://tinyurl.com/myxlhoj. To comment on the proposals email trafficorders@wiltshire.gov.uk