NEIGHBOURS in a street blighted by parking were left baffled by letters advising them they could apply for a permit.

Residents in Elsham Road want their street to be part of the CPZ like nearby Cann Hall – but their pleas were rejected by Waltham Forest Council.

However in July, some were given letters telling them they could apply for a pass to park in surrounding streets.

Resident John Smith paid £25 and thought that was the end of it, but two months later was horrified to be told he was only able to apply thanks to a glitch in the online system.

The 46-year-old IT engineer said: “I am very disappointed with the council and I feel I was let down by them and they don’t care.

“I did nothing wrong and I acted within the instructions and I was given no explanation as to why they are revoking it.

“I am a responsible person and I don’t get angry about things but we cannot park outside our own homes now.

“I heard an altercation over a parking space between my neighbours one day as one of them was taking out his baby’s car seat.

“It has created a stressful and hostile atmosphere and it is going to get worse.”

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said the letter was sent by an “unknown third party”.

He said: “The letter was distributed to households outside the CPZ area, falsely informing them that they could obtain permits to park on nearby roads within the CPZ area.

“A handful of those households were then able to buy a permit within the CPZ using their own address due to a fault with our online system.

“This should never have happened and we apologise for any inconvenience it has caused.

“As soon as we realised, a letter was sent to those residents informing them that their permits would be rescinded and their payments refunded.”

A spokesman for the council said the vote, which included people living in Elsham Road, Cary Road and Selby Road, saw 60 per cent of people reject the scheme.

But Mr Smith said he cannot understand how this could be as he knows only four people on his street who are not in favour of the CPZ.

More than 60 people have now signed a petition calling for parking restrictions.