THIS is the scene that shows the parking misery faced by residents and commuters after charges were imposed around Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The restrictions, which also affect the area around the Necropolis, started on Monday.

Now the streets with new parking meters have been left deserted - and nearby streets have been turned into giant car park.

Every Residents Only bay has been pinched by a commuter and every bit of waste ground quickly filled up by workers desperate to find a space.

According to Glasgow City Council the restrictions in the streets around the hospital are intended to help ease congestion.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Times, it has certainly driven motorists away from Wishart Street, Drygate, Firpark Street, Firpark Terrace, John Knox Street, and Ladywell Street.

The formerly busy roads are now turned into a City of The Dead.

But the new rules have simply moved the problem elsewhere.

Residents in Dennistoun and Townhead are seeing their already busy parking areas filled each day by hospital workers scrambling to find a space.

Many workers are even dumping their cars on the pavements and cramming them into tiny spots on waste grounds.

Rows of cars have been parked a few streets away in Hunter Street and Barrack Street, while roads around Townhead, including St Mungo Avenue, Kennedy Street, Kennedy Path and Taylor Place, have been plagued by workers leaving their cars from morning until night.

And according to John Paterson, chairman of Townhead Action Group, the situation is getting worse by the day.

He said: "When we look out of my window all we can see is a giant car park. Some cars are dumped right up on the pavement.

"It's very frustrating for residents who need to park their cars during the day."

He added: "If you go an errand, your space is gone and you have to pay the new charges - even though you are supposed to get parked outside your home.

"Lots of people in the area are very upset - relatives, friends or tradesmen visiting during the day haven't got a hope in hell of getting a space."

Mr Anderson blames Glasgow City Council for the fiasco.

He said: "They are greedy, senseless and arrogant.

"They must have known that residents would suffer when these new regulations were brought in."

The Townhead group has called a meeting on February 7 to discuss the crisis. They have also asked Glasgow Housing Association to give residents lockable bollards.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "It is far too early to know the effect the new scheme has had in the surrounding area.

"We will of course be monitoring the situation and will review in due course."