ROADS `USED FOR SELLING'.

Angry residents in Twickenham are waging war on two car dealers who they accuse of selling their cars on residential streets.

Locals living around Staines Road have accused neighbouring car dealers Lance Owen and Direct Car Finance of parking illegally on their roads with untaxed cars, at a public meeting last week.

The firms said they would pass on all complaints to their bosses and would try to work as closely as possible with the residents to solve the problem.

Fraser Cullen of Gothic Road said: "We have been calling for action for years and until now it has proved ineffective. The fact is that their forecourts are only big enough to take around 10 cars each, so any other cars are parked down our streets.".

A woman from Campbell Road said: "On one occasion I found a salesman from Lance Owen selling a car outside my front door. There have been times as well when car repairs are being carried out on the main road. I have also had to park my own car in an adjoining street because of them and it is no fun when I have got heavy shopping".

Mr Cullen also said he had contacted the DVLA to report more than 20 cars sitting in roads untaxed.

West Twickenham MP Michael Gold has vowed the council will be monitoring the activities of the two car companies with another meeting to be held in six weeks time.

Company chairman Lance Owen said: "We are a professional company and would be happy to work as closely as possible with both residents and the council. We see the main problem as being one of parking and we monitor our sites every day".

Direct Car Finance were unable to comment directly but at the meeting Les Pritchard from DCF assured residents that he would pass their comments to the firm's owner and if he witnessed any DFC staff acting in an abusive manner they would be fired.

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