ANGRY residents are holding a public meeting to voice their strong opposition to the borough council's controversial parking permit scheme in central Ellesmere Port.

About 100 homeowners are expected to pack Flatt Lane Community Centre at 7.30pm this Friday.

Resident Gary Fallows, of Woodfield Road, has organised the meeting in a bid to put pressure on the council to make changes to the scheme.

Mr Fallows is one of a number of residents who are incensed after being told they can only obtain one permit per household despite having two vehicles.

They are also annoyed that when their 50 free daily visitors' passes have been used up they will then be forced to pay £20 per quarter for 25 passes.

Mr Fallows said: 'I'm posting leaflets in the area to try and get as much support as possible. We're also looking for volunteers to get signatures on petitions.

'Around 80 of us met last week to discuss it but now we want to come up with some strategies on how we're going to try and get the council to make changes to the scheme.

'We've been very angry with people parking outside our homes to go shopping in the town centre but instead of helping us this scheme is penalising us.

'I could leave one of my cars unattended at the car park near Westminster Bridge but how do I know it will be safe?

Another furious resident, Amanda Jackson, of Briarfield Road, says it is vital she and her husband have a permit each because Mr Jackson, who works shifts at a gas plant, is on 24-hour call in case of emergencies and needs quick access to his vehicle.

Mrs Jackson also needs her car parked outside their home in order to take their son to school and travel to work for 9am every day.

She said: 'Why are we being penalised because other residents of Ellesmere Port are too tight to pay the 50p pay and display charge?

'These are the people who should be fined, not us innocent residents.

'After enquiring at the council offices I have been told to park our second car in a local car park and then walk home before collecting it after 6.30pm. What planet are they on?

'They expect me to walk with my 10-year-old son, whatever the weather, to my nearest car park, which is 15 minutes away at Asda.

'The scheme has disaster written all over it. I've lived here for 17 years and there has never been a problem, so why are they creating one now?'

Since the scheme was unveiled last month the Pioneer has received numerous complaints from residents, including a couple who fear their hair salon on Dudley Road will suffer a loss of trade.

Resident John Davis, of Central Avenue, hit out at the council for not holding a meeting to explain how the scheme would work and has obtained more than 360 signatures on a petition of his own.

And last week we revealed how Colin Dignam, who lives in the town centre, was told after four years that he is no longer allowed to leave his vehicle outside the front door of his flat in Exeter Road.

John Roberts, the council's central services manager, said: 'Letters have been sent out to the Fields areas of Ellesmere Port explaining how the parking scheme will work in that area.

'Unfortunately, due to the size of the roads in this area, we are only able to allocate one permit per household.'