Families living close to the University of East Anglia say recent changes to parking permit zones have made it nigh-on impossible to park near their home.

Eastern Daily Press: Residents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria PertusaResidents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

At the beginning of September, several roads in the West Earlham area were included in a roll-out of new permit zones by the city council.

However, one road not included was Robson Road, which Stephen Howes says has led to parking becoming a nightmare because so many people use it for their vehicles.

Mr Howes, 50, said: 'The parking situation on our road has got progressively worse over the last 10 years and this has made it even worse.

'It is now at the stage where you daren't even drive to the shops three minutes away because you'd almost certainly lose your space.'

Eastern Daily Press: Residents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria PertusaResidents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

Mr Howes, a printer, who lives on the road with his partner Samantha Dack, said he envisages the problem getting even worse from here, with UEA students recently returning to their studies.

He said: 'We just had freshers' week and noticed the difference, but it is not just students parking nearby, I think it's also people who work at the university, the hopsital and the research park.

'Sometimes cars are just abandoned for weeks on end. It's very frustrating- it shouldn't be this difficult to park near your own home.'

This time last year, Norwich City Council consulted on new parking permits for the whole university area - including West Earlham - with plans approved by the Norwich highways agency committee in January.

Eastern Daily Press: Residents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria PertusaResidents have spoken of their dismay after their road was left off of a roll-out of parking permits. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

These changes came into force last month and included some of the nearby roads including Rockingham Road, Wakefield Road and Wordsworth Road.

However, a spokesman for Norwich City Council said there was 'insufficient support' for Robson Road's inclusion, with residents of just 17pc of the road's 72 homes indicating they would support permit parking.

The spokesman said: 'The issue of whether permit parking is right for an area is an emotive one that people respond very differently to.

'If after being consulted with, there is a change of feeling at is found there is a reasonable level of support in an area, the case could be reviewed.'