THOUSANDS of residents could lose their parking spaces in the road outside their homes under new bus stop regulations planned for Medway.

Up to 3,800 drivers could lose the unwritten right to park outside their homes when the council adopts bus stop clearways.

Council staff have worked out that there are around 950 bus stops, which will equate to about 3,800 parking spaces when existing bus stops are enlarged to create “clearways.”

Many are in town centres or on busy roads, but many are in residential areas.

One of those most likely to be affected is Twydall, where officers have estimated up to 60 residents could lose their parking slots.

It follows a recommendation that bus stop clearways should be imposed by Medway Council in the new year.

It also looks as though traffic wardens will spend more time patrolling residential areas, hunting those who ignore the new orders.

Officers are recommending to a pre-Cabinet scrutiny committee on January 5 that drivers should get a ticket from the council’s traffic wardens if they stop in the clearways.

Normally, such changes need to be formally published – giving the public the opportunity to object.

The new regeneration and development scrutiny committee’s first meeting is being advised to recommend to the cabinet to take away that right, even though the Government wants consultations.

The plan would speed up journeys for Arriva customers by making it easier for bus drivers to get on and off bus stops.

Geoff Walters, the council’s public transport manager, will warn councillors that putting easy-access ramps at bus stops in residential areas will help the elderly, wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and shoppers. But, clearly, it could also cause problems.

FACTFILE:

*Each bus stop clearway would be nearly three times the length of existing bus stops.

* They will be painted yellow.

* The council is to spend £2.25 million providing 600 access ramps for easier access to the low floor buses used in Medway over the next five years.

* Failure to achieve level access targets by 2011 could cost taxpayers £500,000 in bonus payments.