PLANS to change the parking permit system in one of Shipston’s car parks have left residents up in arms.

Stratford District Council is reviewing Telegraph Street car park, the town’s only councilrun ‘pay and display’ short-stay car park, which has 70 spaces.

The car park currently provides residents’ parking for 22 properties in Telegraph Street and nine properties known as the Old Bakery.

But now the council said it wants to review the system as it said some residents of Telegraph Street have been issued with more than the one parking permit for a number of years.

People were asked their views on four options which varied from keeping the current situation as it is to reducing the number of permits back to one permit per property.

Speaking on behalf of Telegraph Street residents against the proposals at the last town council meeting, Tim Ross-Bain said their historic agreement currently allowed them two residents permits and one visitor pass.

“We’re looking for support from the town council for the reinstatement of the permits to what we’ve had over the last few years,” he said.

Councillor Paul Rathkey said: “I drive down to the Telegraph Street car park every morning.

There’s a handful of cars there.”

He added: “Let’s stick with what we’ve currently got and deal with new applications as they come in.”

Deputy Mayor Philip Vial said he would find it “difficult” to support the first two options which would mean more permits could be issued than the number of spaces available.

“That could be a short-sighted option,” he said.

Members eventually voted to allow people to keep their current permit allocation but restrict new applicants to one per property.

But speaking after the meeting, Telegraph Street resident Lucy Cox said: “We feel the town council has gone against everything we said to them.”

A spokesman for Stratford District Council said the results were still being analysed.