A RESTAURANT owner has called for parking restrictions on the A59 after claiming HGVs and fly-tipping are making life “intolerable”.

Eddie Cowpe, of Huntleys restaurant and farm shop, said drivers of artic-ulated lorries had taken to parking up in Whalley Road, Samlesbury overnight to sleep, but then drive off, leaving a mess behind.

Mr Cowpe said that the lorries were destroying kerbs and grass verges outside his business and that he was constantly finding piles of rubbish and even human waste.

He has now called for Lancashire to extend double yellow lines and bring in two-hour waiting restrictions in a bid to end the problem.

Mr Cowpe said: “It is becoming a joke.

“I am spending £1.8m on the expansion of the business, but all my efforts are being ruined by the mess left by these drivers.

“I’ve tried to negotiate the problem with the Highways Department, but I’m just hitting brick walls.

“It’s such an easy and obvious solution, I don’t see why it can’t be managed by them.

"Double yellow lines are needed all the way up, and a waiting limit would put a stop to overnight parking.

“It’s difficult to describe the kind of mess they leave.

"It’s filth and it’s making life intolerable and just ruining the area.”

Ray Scholes, Highways Engineer at Lancashire County Council, said: "We are aware of this issue and have discussed it with South Ribble Borough Council and the police at a recent traffic liaison meeting.

"We have looked at options including closing a layby to traffic at night – but this raises the issue of how such an order could be effectively enforced in the long-term.

"However we will continue to review the situation with a view to providing a solution."