THE OWNERS of a Grade II listed building in the heart of Hereford were left horrified when a council parking meter appeared outside their doorstep.

The manager of One St Peters Square Hair Salon, Sue James, challenged Herefordshire Council contractors who turned up to install the meter last week, as part of the new on-street parking charges.

When she asked what the contractors were doing Mrs James was met with the response: “You don’t want to know, dear.”

Now owners Simon and Thelma Whitney are making an official complaint to the council about the parking meter, which they say nobody consulted them over.

“It’s one centimetre away from the front of my building and is blocking access for wheelchairs,” said Mr Whitney.

“Every parking meter I have ever seen has always been five or six feet away from a building and is usually next to the kerb. This one is blocking wheelchair access to a commercial property and is directly up against the wall of my building.”

“It looks absolutely hideous and the contractors were rude to my manager when she was raising concerns.

I’m absolutely gobsmacked. The council stated that they consulted with somebody in the salon which is very vague and I certainly haven’t had a conversation with them.”

Mrs Whitney has made an official complaint to Herefordshire Council about the installation of the parking metre.

“It’s very unnecessary to be where it is and we have already been turned down by them stating that it doesn’t impeded our doorway,” added Mrs Whitney.

“I believe it will impede access once people start queuing outside the metre and I’m furious about it.”

Mrs Whitney has also spoken to James Fishlock, from Balfour Beatty, to express her concern at the position of the parking metre.

She added: “I asked why the meter could not be placed on the kerb, as in other towns and cities? He informed me that the reason was visual impact of a line of meters down St Owen Street.

"Five meters on alternate sides of the street hardly constitutes a visual line. Nothing could be more visual than this box as you look at the building from St Peters Square.”

A spokesman for Herefordshire Council said: “Pay-and-display meters are currently being installed in some city centre streets in Hereford as part of the council’s on-street pay-and-display scheme.

“All businesses in the included streets have been contacted by letter and have received a personal visit to inform them of the scheme’s implementation.

“Whilst we appreciate that there are meters outside buildings, the installation of these remains in the highway and they are not affixed to any property. Care has been taken to ensure that no doorways are obstructed by the meters and that they are sited in an appropriate position.”

Mrs Whitney added that a letter of consultation was received a day after the parking metres had already been installed.