Raging Edinburgh residents 'completely trapped' in their homes during rugby match

Residents in Edinburgh have described the parking situation on Scottish Rugby match days as “a nightmare”.

Locals have hit out at rugby goers that park across driveways and block access, describing their actions as “selfish” and “dangerous”.

Residents have called on the council to extend the parking permit zone across the area and for parking wardens to hand out more tickets.

READ MORE: Suspect flew to Edinburgh as police 'waited for him at different airport'

READ MORE: Scottish crash victim found dead at home months after being trapped in car with workmate

READ MORE - Edinburgh Love Island star 'unrecognisable' as she opens new beauty salon in city

READ MORE - Incredible Edinburgh throwback clip shows 90s scheme with iconic pubs and shops

Pictures of this weekend’s parking situation, as Scotland played Australia at Murrayfield, show the cars of match goers parked across driveways and damaging the cars of residents.

One resident from a block of flats in Murrayfield described the situation. “We are unable to drive our cars in and out of our block on match days, leaving us all completely trapped, especially as the trams and buses are all rerouted too,” they said.

Other residents have expressed their fears that cars blocking key access roads means that emergency service vehicles aren’t able to get through.

Locals have their frustrations at the lack of action taken by individual parking wardens and Edinburgh Council.

Currently, Murrayfield is only partially covered by a resident parking permit zone, with people free to park anywhere they like in the majority of the area. Residents have called on the council to extend this zone.

One resident told Edinburgh Live: “I’ve written to the police, local councillors and Murrayfield stadium on a few occasions asking for match day and concert day permits like they have at Hampden. Over there no one but residents can park in the streets near the stadium.”

“At the moment anyone can park anywhere and there were numerous cars on Ormidale Terrace, Abinger Gardens and other streets with cars parked across the pavement corners, and junctions.”

Despite the parking permit zone not covering the vast majority of Murrayfield, other parking restrictions like double yellow lines and blue badge spaces apply.

Residents describe however, that parking wardens do not seem to hand out tickets to cars parked illegally.

One Murrayfield local said: ”people park on pavements, double yellow lines and in blue badge spaces without blue badges and they never seem to get tickets.

“The council should have more wardens out on event days giving out tickets and enforcing parking laws.”

Responding to these complaints, Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m conscious that residents are inevitably impacted during major events at Murrayfield and we’ll continue to monitor parking pressures in the area appropriately.

“Our parking attendants patrol the area regularly and take enforcement action where necessary.

"We always encourage people to walk or use public transport to get to Murrayfield and we’ll continue to do this.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Rugby also told Edinburgh Live: “Scottish Rugby proactively reaches out to locals using our database that is growing month by month.

"We hold a meeting ahead of every campaign with residents to offer them the opportunity to chat through their concerns. Our joint planning meetings before events also involve our partners, which include the emergency services and Edinburgh City Council.”