RESIDENTS fed up with drivers parking on grass verges and turning them into a quagmire are calling on the council for help.

Abid Hussain, who owns a grocery shop in Gladstone Street, Bradford Moor, said he had never known the area look such a mess.

“I am 46. I was born here and grew up in Folkestone Street.

“When I was small it was beautiful around here. As children we had picnics on the grass.

“Today, around here almost every home has two or three cars and because there are too few places to park them people are using these lovely grass verges as parking places and turning them into a mess.

“My sister’s friend came over from Halifax one day to visit and said it looked like Beirut,” said Mr Hussain.

“What we need is for the council to remove some of these verges and turn them into parking spaces so they are tidy.

“Other verges could have raised kerbs put in front so people can’t drive onto them and they will stay green and tidy all year round. As they are it is really looking horrible in these streets and it is dragging the area down.

“Many of us do have pride in our surroundings. I can’t tell you how much litter my wife and I pick up each day. I even organised for some more trees to be planted at the top of Gladstone Street and in summer it is really lovely.

“But the grass verges along here and also in Sandford Road and Harewood Street are a disgrace. They make the streets look horrible.

“Some people don’t seem to care that they are making a mess, but most of us do care.

“I don’t think it would be a huge job to remove some of the grass mounds and put parking spaces in to allow more cars to park sensibly and responsibly.”

Councillor Zafar Iqbal (Lab, Bradford Moor) said he was raising the issue with Highways and would also ask it to be placed on the agenda of Bradford East Area Committee.

“It is a build-up over the last 20 to 25 years. No-one thought what was going to happen and that there would be more and more cars because of a growing population. We do need more parking in these streets.

“The council does have money to do it if it is spent wisely.

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A lot of extra parking spaces could be made because there is room to park cars diagonally.”

Mr Hussain added: “We need more people to come forward and speak out. A lot think going to the council and complaining is a waste of time.

“I think this problem has got a lot worse over recent years and I am planning to start a petition to try and get something done.”