Man City fans' frustration at 'residents parking' plan for roads where no one lives

Plans to introduce a huge new residential parking scheme around the Etihad have angered Manchester City fans - who say many of the streets included are on industrial estates and business parks where no-one lives. On match days hundreds of City supporters park on the roads in and around Briscoe Lane and Lord Street North, which are largely surrounded by commercial properties or bordered by green space.

But, under the council's new proposal, these streets would be restricted along with residential ones. Kevin Parker, secretary of the Manchester City Official Supporters Club, said: "A scheme that protects the parking spaces of residents we would understand, but if they are changing the restrictions around areas that are not residential, in areas that are commercial or industrial, for no good reason that would seem to be unfair."

Parking restrictions are already in place on many of the housing estates around the Etihad. But the council is considering creating a new all-encompassing Eastlands scheme. It's been partly brought about by the construction of the £350m Co-op Live arena, which is set to become the biggest indoor venue in the UK, with a capacity for 23,500 people.

Read more: Bosses of huge new arena next to the Etihad issue update ahead of grand opening

During the consultation period for the arena plans, parking was one of the biggest issues brought up by residents in nearby areas. They feared that dozens of extra events a year would see the streets outside their homes used as a free car park by visitors.

Residents in Beswick who the Manchester Evening News spoke to on a City matchday last month said the parking situation was already a 'nightmare' and told how they had resorted to putting wheelie bins on the