DISABLED people have a devilishly difficult problem to contend with in Trimley St Mary – irresponsible parking.Cars left on the pavements are leaving too narrow a space for wheelchairs to get through, forcing the occupants onto the road.

By Richard Cornwell

DISABLED people have a devilishly difficult problem to contend with in Trimley St Mary – irresponsible parking.

Cars left on the pavements are leaving too narrow a space for wheelchairs to get through, forcing the occupants onto the road.

The problem has been caused by the parents of the young Trimley Red Devils footballers.

At weekends, the streets around the Stennett's Memorial Playing Field are packed with cars as parents bring their sons to play and stay on to watch the games.

But residents say it is the parking on pavements in narrow St Mary's Close and Stennett's Close which is causing annoyance.

Trimley St Mary Parish Council chairman Hazel Blackshaw said: "Several residents have complained about the congestion in the area when the matches are taking place on the field.

"The main problem though is the parking on the paths in some places because it just does not leave enough room for someone in a wheelchair to get through.

"A lot of elderly people live in this area and it would be nice if people just thought a little before parking."

Around 150 boys, aged eight to 17, play in matches on the field on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Richard Kerry, parish council representative on the memorial field management committee, said it would be brought up with Red Devils chairman Bob Race.

"There is never enough space in that area for all the people who come in cars and that problem will always be difficult to deal with," said Mr Kerry.

"When the surface of the field dries out, they do make efforts to get some cars off the road by letting them park on part of the field.

"This decision is usually taken on the Saturday morning and we will ask if they can make sure they get as many vehicles as possible off the road whenever possible."

Plans are in hand to build a new sports pavilion on the field for use by the Red Devils as changing rooms and for community events.

The project, in memory of murdered Trimley teenager Vicky Hall, will also include a car park and an overspill area, though this will not remove every car from the streets.