A new traffic order banning drivers from parking in a busy residential area of Ely came into force this week.

Councillors gave the go ahead for a set of double-yellow lines in West End to be extended in a bid to improve safety back in January.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways committee approved a traffic order to extend the yellow lines by an extra 36 metres in response to complaints from a resident.

The decision came despite proving unpopular with many others in West End, who complained that residents would be forced to park large distances from their homes.

The county council was asked to extend the lines by a homeowner in West End, who said that a large number of cars parking outside their property was making it dangerous for road users and for pedestrians – who struggled to get around the cars.

Cambridgeshire police, the City of Ely Council and Councillor Anna Bailey all lent their support to the proposal but a petition against the plan has been signed by 30 residents of West End and St John’s Road.

The new traffic order came in to effect on Monday.

There is still time for anyone unhappy with the order to mount a legal challenge, however, and they have until April 24 to apply to the High Court to do so.