Residents living next to Dundee’s Premiership football grounds have criticised the council after receiving parking tickets outside their own homes.
On match days, residents are unable to return to their homes until late evening and unless they are parked by 8am they are issued with parking tickets.
Coldside councillor Jimmy Black has advised anyone unfairly issued with a ticket to appeal against it.
Marc Crighton, of Fleming Gardens, next to Tannadice and Dens Park, has received three parking tickets since August and says the system must be changed.
Other residents say they have asked visitors to cancel, or felt they cannot return to their homes until late in the evening.
Natasha Easton, a young mum living on Fleming Gardens South, said: “It’s a complete nightmare, all the residents know that their own street is a no-go area on match days. When there’s a game on we’re pretty much stuck in the house, if you leave you can’t come back. My brother went to work early in the morning, came back after the cones had been set out and was fined for it. He still hasn’t paid.”
It is council policy to take pictures of residents’ cars before laying out cones but if people are away at the time photos are taken they risk being ticketed.
Resident Elizabeth Gornlay said: “Something should be done, I’ve told my son and my daughter not to visit on match days because even if they do get parked they could get a fine.”
Mr Black, whose ward covers the stadiums and the problem parking areas, said: “I think anyone issued with a parking ticket for legally parking outside their own house would have a very strong case for appeal I would urge them to appeal it right away.
“If my constituents come forward with problems I will be very happy to take them further and see what can be done.
“Football grounds are a mixed blessing and I believe we should bend over backwards to please the residents but the pitches and football in our city is a great asset, it brings jobs, fun and a bit of glamour.
“I am absolutely delighted to have these clubs here and parking problems can always be sorted.
“The most important thing is that the roads are clear on match days, because if there are jams that can be dealt with, but there are thousands of pedestrians and they must be protected at all costs.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “The process followed on match days has been agreed with Police Scotland, both of the city’s professional football clubs and Dundee City Council.
“When the police cones are deployed, senior parking attendants follow taking registration numbers of vehicles parked in areas the where cones have been put down.
“This avoids the situation where a vehicle parked before the cones are there receives a penalty charge notice.
“This list of exempt vehicles is circulated to the parking attendants patrolling the area and, therefore, only vehicles parked after the cones have been set out are issued with penalty charge notices.
“This and other measures taken on match days are designed to try to achieve a balance between safety and amenity for football supporters and people who live near to the grounds.”
Residents claimed fans also cause disturbances such as parking on pavements and forcing elderly and wheelchair-bound residents to walk on the road around cars.