THE simmering row over parking in Ludlow is coming closer to boiling point.

It has sparked off protests over double yellow lines, the lack of special tickets for visitors and the way the town is divided into two parking zones.

The bar on special tickets will cause hardship to elderly residents says Nick Galtress, chairman of the Town Centre Residents Association. He warned: "This is a social welfare issue. There are people in their 80s and 90s who depend on family and friends to come in and do things like cleaning."

Ludlow MP, Philip Dunne, joined in the controversy when he and Graeme Perks, his fellow district councillor for Ludlow St Laurence's, sponsored a debate on parking at today's meeting of South Shropshire District Council.

After a meeting of Ludlow Council's planning, parking and traffic committee, the MP said: "I received some useful feedback, in particular regarding the seemingly over-zealous road markings; potential problems for residents of the red zone being unable to park in the adjacent blue zone in the same street; and for visitors staying at guest houses in the town not being provided for."

Broad Street resident James McFarlane sent a letter to Penny Spencer, the county council's director of economy and environment. He said that residents' £100 permits for the red inner zone could not be used in the £50 blue outer zone.

Dr McFarlane told Ms Spencer: "This seems ineq-uitable and is likely to be a source of trouble." He called for a new scheme in which residents could opt to buy a £100 permit for both zones or a £50 ticket for the blue zone only.

Town centre resident Gillie Scarr protested about the double yellow lines in narrow historic streets. In a letter in this week's Advertiser, she also called for parking meters that would allow visitors to stay long enough for lunch as well as shopping and for more leniency over residents' permits.