RESIDENTS from Yelverton have joined forces to express their anger over thoughtless drivers in the area.

A group of elderly residents who live at Briar Tor are urging people to think more carefully about where they leave their vehicles, after finding people parked over the entrance to the only zebra crossing in Yelverton on numerous occasions.

The group decided that ‘enough was enough’ last Friday, after Briar Tor resident Muriel Clay-Thomas was left stranded and soaking in dreadful weather, unable to use the crossing back to her home with bags of shopping after a car had been left blocking the entrance.

One side of the crossing is only accessed by a narrow path which has grass verges either side.

Muriel, who will be 91-years-old in a few weeks, said the act was ‘inconsiderate’ and that she was only able to make it home thanks to a couple who were passing and who helped her across the road with her shopping.

Muriel said: ‘After shopping on Friday I got to the crossing and there was a car parked there and I was stuck in the pouring rain — and for the first time I cried due to this inconsiderate behaviour.

‘I don’t know what I would have done if it was not for the kind couple who helped me.

‘How much longer are we going to put up with this? This is absolutely ridiculous.

‘What’s the point of having a crossing if it’s not safe to cross?’

Muriel urged people to think about the elderly residents who find the zebra crossing a necessity for their day-to-day lives, including attending the local doctor’s surgery and shopping in the Yelverton complex.

A Devon County Council spokesman said: ‘Parking at dropped crossings is inconsiderate and puts pedestrians at risk, especially the blind, mobility impaired, and those with young children in pushchairs.

‘We can enforce against parking at dropped crossings by using our civil parking enforcement powers.

‘We will ensure that our officers will patrol this area and take appropriate action against anyone found to be parking illegally and putting people’s safety at risk.’

Devon County Council’s member for Yelverton rural, Cllr Philip Sanders, said: ‘I would agree that this is inconsiderate and I urge motorists not to obstruct the crossing — I will also ask Highways to do something positive in terms of stopping this from happening.’

Debbie Ashton, parish clerk for Buckland Monachorum Parish Council said: ‘We have not been made aware of the issue — if local parishioners wish to talk to the parish council they are welcome to contact the council or attend a parish council meeting.’