FREE parking in and around Hereford city centre will be confined to history as homeowners fight back in the battle for spaces on residential streets.

A consultation due to be released shortly is considering introducing parking restrictions on 78 streets across the city.

Areas listed include Coningsby Street, the College Estate, Greyfriars (Whitecross), Hinton, Hunderton and Widemarsh (Moorfields).

Some of the streets will see new parking or waiting restrictions introduced, while other streets will have residential parking permits similar to those already in place in areas such as St James and Portfields.

With on-street parking charges soon to be introduced within many streets in and around the cathedral, the new changes will essentially put an end to long-stay free parking in Hereford during office hours.

The residents’ parking scheme has been developed following a public event last year where councillors and residents expressed concerns about finding it difficult to park outside their homes in the city.

The Moorfields area of Hereford was one such neighbourhood where residents had found it increasingly difficult to park outside their own homes.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: “We have worked closely with ward councillors in Hereford City to create the current proposals for the introduction of residents’ parking in some areas of the city.

“The proposals are intended to support residents by managing commuter and shopper parking in residential areas.

“The proposals have been devised considering feedback from a consultation of residents.

“No final decision has been made on these proposals, and we will be undertaking a statutory consultation over the next few weeks.

“All affected residents will receive a letter explaining how they can make representations.

“The demand for on street parking in many residential streets is in excess of the available kerb-space.

“This means that it is necessary to introduce some restrictions on permit eligibility in some areas.

“However, all residents who may be affected can raise objections to the proposed restrictions or permit availability by sending their objections to the council in writing. All feedback will inform the final decision.”

Around 5,000 letters with proposals mapped out are due to be sent to city homeowners in the next week asking them for formal feedback on the proposals.

There will be 21 different letters to highlight the proposals in specific areas of the city and residents will be encourage to contact the council with their thoughts within 28 days.

All the consultation feedback will be analysed and collated into a report to be considered by the council’s cabinet.

Widemarsh ward member Polly Andrews said that in her district there was ‘extreme resentment’ against people who are not residents taking up valuable parking spaces.

Commuters who currently park in the affected areas will be encouraged to use existing car parks.