TEN parking spaces are being removed on a busy St Albans road to allow an additional zebra crossing to be installed. The decision to move the spaces in Verulam Road has angered some residents who already struggle to park along there even though it is part

TEN parking spaces are being removed on a busy St Albans road to allow an additional zebra crossing to be installed.

The decision to move the spaces in Verulam Road has angered some residents who already struggle to park along there even though it is part of the council's controlled parking zone (cpz) scheme for which they pay.

One local resident, Mrs Juliet Voisey, who lives in the adjoining Kingsbury Avenue, said the removal of the spaces would make an already bad situation much worse.

She pointed out that she and her neighbours struggled on occasion to park in their road and often had to use the spaces at the end of Verulam Road to park.

In a letter of objection to Stuart Walmsley, St Albans district manager for Herts Highways, she said that they were a one-car family who felt they were doing their bit to ease congestion and they now felt penalised for just trying to park close to their home.

She also pointed out that with a toddler and a baby, having to park even further away because of the removal of the spaces would be very difficult logistically.

Mrs Voisey added: "At evenings and weekends the roads around here are absolutely full to capacity with parked cars so I would like to know how you can justify this removal and how you have been allowed to proceed with this."

A spokesperson for Herts Highways said the crossing was being installed at the request of local councillors and the local residents association and was expected to be installed during the current financial year.

She said it would link the residential area in Verulam Road with the Victoria Playing Fields.

The spokesperson added: "Public notices will be published in January, at which people can formally raise their concerns.