PEOPLE are having trouble accessing parking bays close to their homes because their street is being used as an overflow car park by workers.

Parking has been an issue for Nicholas Page, 37, who moved to Old Town five years ago – but he believes the situation is getting worse.

He said: “Nationwide and Intel (staff) use our street as an overflow car park. As the residents leave in the morning, their space is taken almost instantly.

“I can forgive people that work in Old Town itself and park here as there really aren’t enough public car parks.”

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Several streets in Old Town have been affected, including Winifred Street and Margaret’s Road.

Resident Janice Browning, 66, told the Adver: “The parking issues are getting worse. It was happening well before Christmas too. It is contract workers at Nationwide, who are aware of the situation.

“The staff parking is intolerable and affecting daily life for all the residents. You can’t safely pull off and on drives, they park on kerbs and within inches of driveways.

“It is like a congested car park which started months ago and is becoming increasingly worse.

“I doubt even emergency services could squeeze past some days and Nationwide are doing nothing.”

A meeting was held on February 4 between Nationwide representatives and council officers to find solutions and respond to residents’ parking issues.

Coun Nadine Watts said: “It was agreed that action needs to be taken to improve the parking situation for residents.

“We were mindful of the risk of displacement, that a holistic approach needs to be taken to share the load.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think the situation has got any better yet. It is taking longer to source the barriers than originally thought.

“Hopefully, the parking situation will improve soon for local residents with Nationwide and Swindon’s Bus Company.”

But Nationwide is currently working with residents and the borough council to set up both short and long-term parking solutions.

A Nationwide spokesperson told the Advertiser: “As Swindon’s largest employer, we are continually looking to identify suitable parking places for our employees, many of whom live in and around the town.

“The last thing we want to do is inconvenience anyone and we apologise if we have.

“After having consulted with residents, we will now work with the highways authority to start measuring the impact of temporary parking restrictions in selected residential areas close to Marlborough Park.

“This will allow us to determine where people move to as a result and will help shape the council’s planned restricted parking scheme, which residents are currently being consulted on.

“In addition to these measures, we have agreed ongoing use of spaces within the nearby Intel car park while we continue to signal our interest with the council over plans to convert part of Broome Manor Golf Club into parking facilities.

“We would ask residents to please bear with us while these changes are introduced.”