RESIDENTS have hit out after plans for a “waste of money” disabled parking bay in a rural Rossendale street were backed by councillors.

Seventy three-year-old Sylvia Dunn, who is registered disabled, said she applied for the six-metre bay in Cutler Greens, Stacksteads, because she sometimes has difficulty finding a space.

Lancashire County Council officials said they had no objection to the application because Mrs Dunn meets its criteria to qualify for the bay.

But the move has angered neighbours and locals, who believe the new space is not needed.

Speaking at the Lancashire Local Rossendale meeting on Monday, Mrs Dunn said she often has trouble parking because there is more than one tractor parked in the road.

However, Anthony Harwood, who has lived next door to Mrs Dunn for five years, disputed the claim at the meeting.

He said: “There is no problem with parking. You say they can be used by anyone with a disabled badge and not just Mrs Dunn, but it’s a semi-rural area, so why would more than one person want to park there? It will be a waste of time and public money.”

Another resident, who refused to be named, said the money should be spent on installing a camera to monitor how many people park.

And while committee member and Greensclough ward Coun Judith Driver said she agreed with residents that there are ample parking spaces in the street, she conceded that Mrs Dunn is still entitled to a disabled bay because she meets the relevant criteria.

She said: "I am concerned because I have been up there and there does not seem to be a problem with parking in my opinion.”