A BROOKS Lane resident has accused authorities of ‘failing in their duty of care’ after allowing lorries to park on his street overnight for more than two years.

Chris Farrimond, 50, says that Brooks Lane, Middlewich is in a dilapidated state due to damage from HGVs.

He said: “Typical damage by a HGV happened on August 12. There are tyre marks leading up to and on to the pavement and over the man hole cover which it destroyed.

“At present that part of the footpath is unusable for taxpayers’ use who will once again foot the cost of the repair.”

Mr Farrimond also says that the lorries make Brooks Lane unsafe to drive down at night.

He added: “When approaching a HGV parked on a bend you cannot see what traffic is coming in the opposite direction and have to drive in the middle of the road only to find another vehicle, normally a HGV, coming at speed at you.

“It is only luck that there has not as yet been a serious accident. This being on a street that has a local community church, a nursery and a Scouts hall.”

Mr Farrimond also says that some of the drivers litter the road and urinate in the bushes.

He added: “Evidence of their stay is usually visible in the mornings with litter, empty cans and bottles left behind.

“There are no public facilities for them to use and you can see drivers in the bushes or by their vehicles urinating in the morning which surely must be a health hazard.”

Clr Mike Parsons, of Middlewich Town Council, said: “The whole issue is disgusting and unacceptable.

“The council is fully aware of what is going on but at the end of the day it’s an environmental health and a breaking of the law matter.

“These people should be found, prosecuted and made an example of.”

Mr Farrimond first reported the problem to the former Cheshire County Council’s area traffic manager in March 2007.

He was told that parking restrictions had been proposed.

The father-of-two says that the lorries start to appear between 4.30pm and 11.30pm on Monday to Friday.

During this time, pedestrians, particularly parents with pushchairs and those in wheelchairs, struggle to use the pavement.

Often the lorries also get stuck and block the road.

A spokesman for Middlewich community action team said police have targeted vehicles parked in Brooks Lane with fixed penalty notices, warning notices and letters.

They said: “We try to respond to all calls from the public in the most effective manner for the situation being reported to us and for what is apparent on our arrival.

“We will continue to carry out patrols and pro-actively deal with the various parking issues at the location, however currently there is extremely limited enforceable restrictions at the location for the police to work with.”

The Guardian understands that double yellow lines are to be painted on the road by Cheshire East Council.

But Mr Farrimond does not think this is the answer as it could cause problems for people with a genuine need to park. He just wants police to clamp down on problem vehicles.

Clr Parsons added: “Once again they’ve skirted around the issue for years and come up with the completely wrong answer.”