RESIDENTS fighting an unpopular parking scheme in a leafy Victorian terrace have submitted a petition to the European Parliament.

People living in the streets around Western Hill, in Durham City, say the unwanted scheme breaches both environmental rights and those contained in EU legislation.

Yesterday, residents Margaret Till and Mary Scollen handed a petition to their Euro MP Fiona Hall.

Ms Hall said: "I hope that Durham County Council will now defer its plans for parking on Western Hill until the European Parliament has considered the residents' petition."

Durham County Council plans to install passing bays and parking meters to allow short-term visitors to park.

Commuters and long-term visitors are being encouraged to use one of three park-and-ride schemes on the edge of the city, which are due to open early next month.

Residents have already staged two vocal protests over plans to install parking meters in their street.

They say an influx of traffic would prevent them from parking outside their own homes, leaving them with no choice but to park in nearby streets such as Victoria Terrace and Princes Street.

Residents have said they are prepared to pay for permits to park outside their own homes.

They are also opposed to "unsightly" parking meters.

The county council has said it intends to press ahead with the scheme, but would monitor its effect over the next six months.

City councillor Grenville Holland said last night: "It seems that all they can do at county hall is keep on repeating the mantra that all residents want is free parking, which is totally un- true.

"In fact the residents want a scheme that meets their needs alongside those of the city and park-and-ride scheme.

"What residents are requesting is perfectly reasonable and represents a minor adjustment to their strategic plans."