RESIDENTS have blasted new parking attendants for their 'hardline tactics' after six neighbours were fined while parking in spaces they say they have used for years.

A leading councillor has blamed the fines on the fact that 4,000 information leaflets about the Parkwise scheme were not distributed to Chorley households.

But Parkwise bosses have hit back, saying there was ample publicity before the scheme's launch on September 6.

The residents of Hamilton Road admit their vehicles were parked in bays with a one hour limit -- but all hold parking permits and say that when they bought them, they were told it was fine to park there.

Leo Stones, 29, of Hamilton Road, explained: "I got the permit last year and have parked in the same bay for all that time with no problems.

"I was fined on the first day of the new scheme and so were a number of my neighbours. I accept that the signs say you can only stay there for an hour, but the wardens could see we had permits, and we thought it was okay to park there because we haven't been told otherwise.

"I just think a bit of leniency should have been shown. It seems like the new attendants are using hardline tactics."

The residents say they are often forced to park in the one-hour bays as there are often no residents' spaces left.

Northwest ward councillor Ralph Snape said residents were confused about where they can and cannot park because no-one received information leaflets.

The 4,000 leaflets were printed by Lancashire County Council to be placed in libraries and information centres, but councillor Ralph Snape said: "I was under the impression they should have been distributed to homes in the area.

"The rules have not really been made clear as people have not seen the leaflets."

But a county council spokesperson said: "There has been a comprehensive information campaign in the run-up.

"There have been adverts in the local press, on the radio and many stories covered by all the local papers. There is also a wealth of information about the scheme available online."

The scheme is overseen across the county by Lancashire County Council but is managed at a local level by Chorley Borough Council.

A borough council spokesman said: "The regular enforcement will result in a greater number of spaces in residents bays.

"People can still park in limited waiting bays for quite a lengthy amount of time. However, in the long term we will be reviewing areas where traffic orders are in force now that full-time enforcement is in place.

"In the mean time, people have to park legally and in accordance with the regulations."