CAMPAIGNERS who are determined to secure residents' parking claim their quiet terraced street has become an overspill car park.

Residents said a grass verge down one side of Hambleton Terrace, in York, has all but disappeared beneath the wheels of 4x4s and other vehicles.

People have endeavoured to protect the grassy stretch opposite their homes by planting flowers and shrubs, but say drivers flatten the budding gardens in their efforts to find a space.

A memorial garden with wooden planters has now been created following the death earlier this year of an elderly neighbour, Ernest Nutbrown, who long campaigned for residents' parking.

Rakesh Aggarwal, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, organised a petition four years ago, calling for residents' parking.

He said: "We were sick of the amount of traffic. There used to be a grass verge where people sat in deck chairs. Now, in the winter it is a mud bank."

He said residents were consulted earlier this year, and the majority supported a scheme.

"After years of campaigning we are still waiting for it."

Mr Aggarwal said Mr Nutbrown looked after the grass verge by creating a little garden - but then watched in dismay as motorists parked on his flowers.

"He died waiting for residents' parking."

Hambleton Terrace is near York Hospital, where a new car park is expected to be completed by the Spring, creating a total of 430 spaces.

The lack of parking has led to queues of motorists on Wigginton Road with patients turning up late and stressed.

Rakesh said: "I believe the council won't do anything in this street until York Hospital has built its car park because where will people park? I believe the council is digging its heels in because of that." Colin Barton, a Hambleton Terrace resident of 20 years, said: "The ironic thing is people are up in arms about parking restrictions in York - but we want them. People park here and then walk into town."

He added: "I have put three tonnes of top soil on the verge to stop it from disappearing, but people just park on top of it."

A council spokeswoman said councillors would consider the feasibility of residents parking for Hambleton Terrace in September. She stressed it was "absolutely not the case" they were delaying the scheme because of the hospital parking.

"It has taken longer than normal to reach committee stage because many of the staff who would have worked on the project were temporarily deployed on Royal Ascot at York duties. We apologise to residents for the delay, but assure them that we have since been working hard to make up for the delay."

Updated: 10:16 Tuesday, August 23, 2005