PEOPLE who live on one of Richmond's steep cobbled streets are hoping a rethink over roads will open the door to fresh talks on parking outside their homes.

Bargate residents were happy to pay a £10 annual fee for parking permits in 1998 when restrictions were introduced to deter office workers from leaving their cars parked along the street all day.

Despite the steep gradient, drivers still found the area attractive, as it was not covered by fees or time limits.

However, although the situation may have improved during the day, the restrictions do not apply after 6pm.

As a result, residents still come home from work in the evening to find they cannot park outside their own houses.

"There are simply not enough spaces to go round," said resident Maureen Hutchins.

"The permits have also been issued to people who live in other streets nearby which just makes things worse.

"All we want is a level playing field; why are we paying £10 a year if we are not getting what we are paying for?"

The residents are hoping North Yorkshire County Council's highways officials will now consider steps to classify Bargate as a residents-only zone, so preventing parking by anyone other than people with homes on the street or their visitors.

They would also like to see a one-way system reintroduced after the success of a scheme used on a temporary basis to limit the amount of traffic rumbling up and down the road when Richmond's Mercury Bridge was closed in 2000.

The county authority is already planning to consult residents of Bargate on the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

However, Councillor Oliver Blease said it was possible the residents' concerns could be incorporated in a wide-ranging survey of the problems on Richmond's roads.

"There is a workshop planned on Thursday, May 16, and I cannot see why these issues cannot be included," he said.

"It does seem as though there is a need to fine-tune the parking arrangements in the area and perhaps the town centre study is an appropriate way of addressing these issues.