A row has broken out between a bus company and a resident in Kemsley about on street parking and the behaviour of its drivers.

Arriva staff use a section of Coldharbour Lane as a turning circle at the end of their route and often stop there during breaks.

The road in question is no entry for cars, but Laura Webb and other residents have been parking there – in front of their homes – for more than a year.

VIDEO: Laura Webb's footage of the incident

The 32-year-old was shocked when a reversing bus hit her sister’s car last month.

Miss Webb said: “I came out and shouted at him, ‘you just hit her car’.

“I started filming on my phone, but he was really relaxed and just told me I was illegally parked, when I wasn’t.”

Insurance details were exchanged at the roadside and police were called.

But this is not the first time Mrs Webb has had difficulties with the company.

Earlier this year, she was trying to get to a doctor’s appointment when she found herself blocked in by a bus.

She said: “They know I park there so they parked at an angle.

“They’re always being vindictive and unprofessional- they just don’t like us parking where we do.”

Miss Webb, who is studying to be a barrister, argues she has done nothing wrong as the road remains unadopted as it’s part of a new development and there are no double yellow lines.

However, Arriva says the road she parks in is unaccessible unless she ignores the signs stating ‘No Entry Except Buses’.

A spokesman said: “It was brought to our attention that a suspected case of accidental damage was caused to a resident’s vehicle on Ridham Avenue in Kemsley by one of our Arriva fleet, while performing a turning manoeuvre as part of a route.

“You can’t just hit people’s cars because you don’t like where they’re parked.”
- Laura Webb

“Upon further investigation, we have discovered the bus was performing a turning manoeuvre within a bus-only section of the road in a designated turning circle, whereby other vehicles are not allowed to park.

“CCTV footage taken on the bus in question has been closely analysed and proves to be inconclusive, but it is apparent the area or manoeuvrability was restricted by the resident’s parked vehicle.

“Arriva is focused on being the hub of the community and takes every incident very seriously.

“In this case the resident’s vehicle in question should not have been parked in this area which restricted the manoeuvrability of the bus that was in service at the time of operation.”