CONTRACTORS are damaging grass verges by parking on the side of a road to access nearby building sites, locals claim.

Malvern Hills Conservators also claim the contractors are creating safety issues and damaging the verges, in Foley Terrace, Malvern.

Despite repeated efforts by the police, residents and Malvern Hills Conservators, the contractors still park their vans on the roadside.

A 68-year-old woman, who lives in Wyche Road, Malvern, said: "It's heartbreaking. It's been going on for months.

"They have churned up the verges. The mud is more than ankle deep. They have trashed the sides of that little lane despite the notices.

"That van I took a picture of is always there - it's parked next to a sign saying no construction parking.

"The police put cones out which they move and we put back at night. There are also signs saying 'No construction parking on Foley Terrace'."

The resident took a picture of contractors' vans parked on a section of Foley Terrace, which connects with Wells Road.

"It's a busy slip road. They are parking all down there on one side. It's so dangerous," she said.

"I turned into the slip road and had to reverse out onto the busy main road to let other cars out. There's going to be a horrible accident there."

She added that the work is expected to continue for many more months.

Duncan Bridges, director of Malvern Hills Conservators, said damage has been reduced after their wardens spoke to the contractors.

"Although sadly there are still some individuals who persist in parking on the verges, despite the clear warning signs," he said.

"We understand the police have attended the site on a number of occasions and put no parking cones out."

Mr Bridges added that unauthorised parking on land under the jurisdiction of Malvern Hills Conservators is against the bylaws of the Malvern Hills Act 1884-1995.

He added that the contractors can be fined for breaking the bylaws.

Malvern Hills Conservators are in communication with the main building contractors at the Audley Ellerslie retirement complex, in Abbey Road, Malvern, to resolve the issue and organise restoration works.

A manager for Attollo Construction said he thought Foley Terrace was listed as a road which contractors could park in, due to a leaflet by the main contractor Wates.

"Parking is an issue here as there's two big jobs going on. I do tell them not to park on the grass.

"They [Wates] say you can park on that road. Take it up with Wates."

A Wates spokesman said: "Wates enforces a strict parking policy across all of our project to ensure minimal disruption for local residents and the area.

"We are reviewing this policy as a matter of urgency to ensure there is clarity that there is to be no sub-contractor parking on Foley Terrace.

"We will review any damage caused by our sub-contractors and implement any necessary rectification works."

The spokesman added that Wates has a policy of asking contractors to park on Wells Road.

PC Jo Elliott, of Malvern Police Station, said: "We are aware of the ongoing parking issue as a result of the building sites and PCSO Watson and I patrol the Foley Terrace Wyche Road junction every shift that we are on.

"There are police cones placed out on the junctions to prevent anyone parking in these zones to try and keep visibility at the junctions as clear as possible.

"We have been working in conjunction with the site managers who have been assisting in trying to encourage their tradesmen to park considerately.

"We will continue to monitor throughout the build."