Calls mount for ban on learner drivers on residential street

Residents have been left fuming after their roads have been flooded with hundreds of learner drivers damaging their vehicles and properties. 

A growing number of locals in Hastings, East Sussex, are calling for a ban on the 'endless conveyor belt' of driving lessons taking place Ashford Road and Ashford Way. 

It is believed as many as 300 learners from more than 20 different schools use the two roads every week. 

The vast numbers of learners has infuriated residents, with one describing them as a 'real pain in the a***', while another claimed one had crashed into their parked car. 

A councillor has now started a campaign asking driving instructors to consider using other areas, with a number of posters seen in the area asking them to take the pressure off the largely elderly population.

Councillor Andy Batsford said: 'People are getting nervous for their own cars with so many learners around.

'We're just asking the local driving schools if they can find somewhere else to take their learners.'

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A number of locals were also keen to express their frustration at the number of learner drivers on their road. 

One resident, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline: 'My car has been hit where they don't take the corner well enough but they're going so slowly it didn't do any damage and I just came out and spoke to them.

'They don't really bother me. Everybody has to learn somewhere.' 

Another man who lives on Ashford Way said: 'They're a real pain in the a***, but the school run is worse.

'They're a pain because we get so many of them. Luckily, I'm away in the day so I don't see that many of them.' 

Others living on these roads say the invasion of L-plated cars has caused chaos in the neighbourhood, with dining rooms lit up like a 'sci-fi film' each night.

Several of the residents' vehicles run parallel to the roads and are used as 'free obstacles' by learners, because no one takes responsibility when they are damaged, Councillor Batsford claimed.

The 54-year-old said that lines of five or six learner drivers could regularly be seen queuing to practice their parallel parking, a sight he labelled as 'comedic'.

Alice Lase, 23, says her stepfather - who lives on Ashford Road - 'hates' the endless ques of learner drivers.

She said: 'I learned to drive down this road. As soon as I told them I was interested in lessons, they asked where I lived.

'I said 'Ashford Road' and they said, 'Great, that's where we would be taking you anyway'.'

Another local, who chose to remain nameless, claimed: 'One time they had five goes parking next to my car.'

According to the councillor, there has been a slight reduction in the number of lessons seen on the roads since these posters were put up.

'Residents have noticed a reduction in numbers now,' he said.

A number of driving schools in Hastings have been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.