A petition calling for an end to the “parking chaos” blighting an east Suffolk market town has gained unanimous support.

Residents in Framlingham have united in their condemnation of the parking charges, which they say have left them competing with visitors for the free spaces outside their homes.

John Massey, a Fore Street resident who devised the petition, is calling for an end to the charges or the creation of residents-only permits so that his neighbours can leave home without fear their return will be blocked.

“I’ve lived here for 11 years and it’s never been as bad as this,” he said.

“There’s a constant worry that if you leave a space someone else will take it – it’s a total nightmare.”

Mr Massey believes the problem has arisen because regular visitors to the town who previously used the free Suffolk Coastal car park have been forced to seek on-street spaces by the introduction of charges.

Although he doesn’t blame the motorists for seeking cheaper parking, the married father-of-two fears the rows of tightly-packed cars, now lining the street are an “accident waiting to happen”.

Early petitions responses, which have been 100% supportive, indicate his views are widely shared.

Beatrix McLennan, an 81-year-old Fore Street resident, says there’s an “awful sense of trepidation” every time she goes shopping in her car.

Having been forced to park far from her home on previous occasions, due to motorists blocking her return, the elderly asthma sufferer says the situation is making life very difficult for her.

“If I take my car out to do a little bit of shopping, I come back with groceries and half the time I can’t park – it’s a nightmare,” she said.

“The charges are going to kill the atmosphere of this charming town.”

Christopher Hudson, a Suffolk Coastal councillor in Framlingham, has supported the petition, having been alerted to the problem on a number of occasions. “We must sort out the chaos of parking in Framlingham,” he said. “When we have workers parking quite lawfully on the street but causing very real distress to the residents it’s going to lead to animosity,” he said.

To sign the petition email hillside21@hotmail.com