THERE have been growing reports of "dangerous and disrespectful" parking around Saints stadium at the start of the season.

After Saints' firs three home games at the Totally Wicked Stadium this season, a season ticket holder contacted the Star about their growing concerns about parking around Peasley Cross Lane.

After this reader letter was published, dozens more ticket holders expressed frustrations as vehicles have parked on the pavements and grass verges along Peasley Cross Lane.

This has provoked ire as pedestrians have been forced to walk into the road to get past the cars, often putting themselves in harm's way with oncoming vehicles.

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'Rude and disrespectful'

After the Star reader letter was published on social media over the weekend, Nicola Hartley said: "It’s absolute madness, we park and walk [for five to ten] minutes! The amount of people that ignore the road closed sign outside Saints and drive around it is crazy!"

Similarly, Carmella Inga Quinn said: "Parking on the grass verges is massively disrespectful to the town, they come here and think they can just dump their cars anywhere then go to the game, it's just rude and disrespectful!"

Christine Parker added: "On Friday night going up Peasley Cross Lane towards the traffic lights, cars were parked completely on the pavement. We had to walk out onto the road to get around surely this shouldn’t be allowed. 

"Everyone is quite right it’s so dangerous when the cars are backing off the grass verge at the end of the game.

Michelle Louise said that "someone will get hurt" if this carries on, while Ian Henderson said it was "absolute chaos" after the game as streams of pedestrians clashed with parked cars and oncoming traffic.

Council 'working to find a solution'

A St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: “We understand residents’ frustrations with the situation they are currently facing in this area and are doing what we can to restrict any further issues.

"We are currently working alongside partners to find a solution to address this problem and would remind motorists who use that area that they have a duty to not cause obstructions for others.

"Persistent dangerous parking which could cause obstruction should always be reported to the police.

“To facilitate Saints home games, we offer free safe and secure parking from 6pm on a number of council-maintained town centre car parks within walking distance of the stadium which spectators are encouraged to use."

More information about matchday parking can be found here. Incidents of dangerous parking to the police can be reported here.