RESIDENTS in an Aberystwyth street were left stunned when council workers painted double yellow lines around parked cars.

The council claimed they warned people in advance not to park in South Road but did not close the road before coming to do the work.

When they arrived they found a number of cars parked where they wanted to paint the double yellow lines.

And instead of waiting for the cars to be moved they decided to carry on and paint the lines between the vehicles.

Hotelier John Evans called the situation a “complete farce”.

Mr Evans, who owns Yr Hafod Guest House on the corner of Marine Terrace and South Road said residents were not given any notice and no bollards were placed on the street to keep it clear.

“The first thing we knew was white lines appeared on the road,” he said.

“Now we know that’s where the council wanted the lines to go, but we weren’t told it would happen.”

South Road is one of more than 200 locations in the county where double yellow lines will be painted over the next two months by Ceredigion council in response to parking issues from residents.

The area around South Road, especially on a tight bend junction, is a popular place for drivers parking near to Aberystwyth seafront.

The council said the double yellow lines, which are currently just a foot long in some places, will not be enforceable until the job is complete.

A Ceredigion council spokesperson said that “due to vehicles disregarding notices not to park” the road marking work “has been compromised”.

“These short sections of yellow lines were painted in order to discourage further parking at the location so that the works could be recommenced and completed as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.

“Traffic orders will not be enforceable until the works are complete.”