RESIDENTS may be forced to pay for parking outside their own homes, as a dispute over a playing fields car park rumbles on.

The scheme, for the Beehive area of WGC, would see drivers forking out �25 for one permit, �40 for a second and �60 for a third.

Welwyn Hatfield Council is planning to introduce parking restrictions at King George V (KGV) playing fields which, it claims, would mean people who currently park there for free would opt to leave their cars on surrounding roads instead.

A consultation was carried out on behalf of the council, but residents had just two weeks to have their say before it closed, on Monday.

The consultation letter to residents read: “Finesse Leisure has recently proposed to introduce new parking restrictions in KGV playing fields car park.

“In view of the anticipated displacement of vehicles into nearby roads, the council is consulting residents.

“The intention of such a scheme would be to return the streets where you live back to you for your benefit by ensuring you have the best possible chance of parking outside or close to your home.”

A council spokesman confirmed the parking restrictions planned were NOT the same as the car park charges for KGV, which would have cost �60,000 for new ticket machines, that were thrown out by the council at the end of last year.

Ward councillor Lynn Chesterman featured in the WHT last year with colleague Margaret Birleson, as they battled to find a solution to the parking row.

This week she reiterated a major issue was with QE2 Hospital staff parking all day in the car park and on surrounding roads.

She said the council had promised to consult hospital bosses for a solution but was concerned this had not yet taken place.

*See what residents had to say in this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out now.