`WE CAN'T EVEN PARK OUTSIDE OUR HOMES' _ Station development work leaves residents cut off.

Byline: HELEN CLARKE

RESIDENTS are furious after plans to revamp a Liverpool station have left them unable to park outside their own homes.

Home-owners of Woolton Road in Garston live opposite Allerton station which is currently being improved.

They say they were never consulted on necessary road changes which have left them without a place to park.

For years they have parked their cars on a central reservation opposite their homes but cannot any longer.

Project managers have said a purpose built parking area will be made for them up to 150 yards away.

But they say that is not good enough -- especially as double yellow lines will stop them unloading their cars or even receiving deliveries. They are also worried about bin collections.

William Taylor, 59, a labourer, said their bins were not collected one week because the vans could not stop to collect them.

He said: ``There are 16 houses on this road and we all feel the same.

``We're not against the station plans, it's the road works going on with it. Our houses are at the top of steps. Everything in our houses has had to come up them.

``People need to be able to stop outside 24 hours a day, cut that off and it will cut our homes off. ''

Elderly couple Marie, 86, and Trevor Griffiths, 78, are also against the road plans.

Mrs Griffiths has regular hospital trips for arthritis and struggles to walk.

A taxi pulled up outside the steps to drop them earlier this month, but because the dual carriage way has been reduced to one lane while work goes ahead, they caused traffic chaos and were verbally abused.

Mr Griffiths said: ``We need to be able to stop outside those steps. Something must be done. ''

The residents now want a meeting with Merseytravel to discuss the plans.

A spokesman from Merseytravel, said: ``We've met Cllr Peter Millea to discuss the concerns of residents and we will be reviewing parking and deliveries as well as disabled access in agreement with the city council.

``We understand residents will be able to park on double yellow lines outside peak hours for loading and unloading as is the case in other parts of the city.

CAPTION(S):

DIFFICULTY: Trevor Griffiths, 78, and his wife Marie, 86; PROTEST: Residents from Woolton Road, Garston, are furious at works that have left them cut off from their cars Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY