FEARS have been raised that carers will no longer be able to park outside their clients’ homes in two Andover roads after changes were made to permit schemes.

Aster Group announced it will be changing car parking management for Rack Close and Beales Close as of this month.

Test Valley Borough Council has managed the spaces on behalf of owners Aster, previously TestWay, since 2003.

However the housing provider requested the council give back the spaces in January and will instead employ One Parking Solution to manage them.

The move will affect 400 spaces across Andover and Romsey, including Rack Close and Beales Close.

Borough councillors for St Mary’s ward Iris Andersen and John Cockaday have since been contacted by residents from both roads, who raised concerns that carers would not be able to park outside their client’s homes as a result of the change.

When Cllr Andersen contacted Aster she was told it was changing management as it “will give the residents a much better level of service as they will patrol seven days a week at all times, not just during office hours.”

The Aster representative added residents had been advised and were happy with the arrangement and Aster Group would be offering one permit to each tenant and one visitor.

However in a letter sent to residents, it states: “Unfortunately there is not enough space to be able to allow for visitors’ permits, and therefore visitors will have to find alternative parking arrangements.”

Councillors Andersen and Cockaday visited Rack Close last month and came across a carer who was visiting a resident.

The carer, who did not want to be identified,told them she visits her client three times a day and changes to the parking scheme meant she would no longer be able to park at Rack Close.

Cllr Andersen said: “She told me she would have to find alternative parking in George Yard car park or Black Swan Yard car park.

“If that was full she would have to go to the Chantry Centre.

“I want to work something out with Aster so that we can sort out a permit for the carers.”

Under TVBC’s rules, residents were entitled to one permit for use on a specific vehicle registered to their address and one visitors permit for use on any vehicle.

Despite Aster’s initial stance that it will not allow visitors permits, the housing association says it will provide permits on a case-by-case basis.

An Aster spokesperson said: “Where residents have more than one vehicle registered at their home address they will be able to apply for more than one permit.

“What we want to ensure is that we are able to satisfy the parking requirements of people who live in Rack Close [and Beales Close] first, which is why visitor permits are restricted.

“We can often resolve issues with a quick phone call so would encourage residents just to give us a call if they’re concerned.”