Barbara Sheppard of Southbrook Street Picture Ref: 77148-23RESIDENTS fear someone is going to be seriously hurt in their road.

They are worried that cars double parking on double yellow lines at Southbrook Street are making it difficult for school children to cross the road safely.

And, in a bid to make the road safer they will present a petition to the Mayor, Peter Stoddart, at the Civic Offices on Friday asking for a permit scheme for residents only.

But Swindon Council does not issue permits for individual streets.

Barbara Sheppard, a retired teacher, fears a child will be run over before the council do anything to make the road safer.

Parents who have children at Ferndale Infant School and Ferndale Junior School use Southbrook Street to park in while they drop them off and collect them.

Miss Sheppard, 56, said: "Mainly there are young children milling about and it's an accident waiting to happen."

Miss Sheppard has lived in the street, which has 40 houses in it, for 16 years.

There are double yellow lines on the right hand side. She said: "The amount of traffic in this tiny side street is unbelievable."

Oxford Brookes' University campus also faces onto the street.

Miss Sheppard said: "The students have got permits to park in their car park.

"But they're not using them, they're parking in our street instead."

Miss Sheppard, who is disabled after a back injury, said: "You can rarely park near your house. I've had to park in different streets."

Amanda Thompson, of The Thatches, drives her four-year-old daughter, Eileanoir at Ferndale Infant School and seven-year-old son, Aidan, at Ferndale Junior School.

Mrs Thompson, 37, said: "Most of the time it is really hard to drive down this road.

"It is dangerous for the children because they have no road sense."

She added: "I do feel sorry for the residents but there's nowhere else to park."

Paul Jeffery, of Bessemer Road, parks his car at Southbrook Street while he collects his five-year-old son, Harison.

The archaeologist said: "I find it annoying when people park on the double yellow lines and in front of the junctions because it makes it hard for people to see children crossing."

Michael Tyler, 29, of Gorse Hill, had to park on the double yellow lines while he waited for his eight-year old son Liam.

The 29-year-old said: "It's wrong to park here but what else can you do. I can't walk from Gorse Hill.

Gavin Calthrop, a spokesman for Swindon Council said: "The council cannot make individual streets residents parking areas because it is simply not viable.

"There have to be residents' parking zones and there are no plans to introduce any more.

"If motorists are parking illegally our parking attendants will investigate immediately and issue penalty notices where appropriate."

Susan Tolman, a spokesman for Oxford Brookes University, said: "As this issue has been highlighted, we will ask the campus administrator to keep a particularly watchful eye on parking over the next couple of weeks."

Lyndsay Scanlan