Only an idiot would park here: Residents in affluent neighbourhood turn to 'vandalising' cars with SAUCE in fight against parking on their streets Locals say Edgbaston, Birmingham has become a free-parking hot-spot Residents say the proximity to hospital and university brings congestion Affluent area stages international cricket and tennis events every year Residents in an affluent suburb are resorting to 'vandalising' cars in an attempt to deter outsiders from parking on their street. Homeowners in Edgbaston, Birmingham, are taking the law into their own hands because they say the local council has done nothing to reduce the number of vehicles left on their road. The word 'idiot' has been daubed with a food substance on the bonnets of cars which are left outside houses all day. Ire: Angry residents vandalised this car which has the word idiot daubed on it a sauce The area is known for being an affluent suburb of Birmingham which hosts international cricket and tennis matches every year. But during the year it is seen as a free-parking hotspot due to its proximity to one of Birmingham's biggest hospitals, the Queen Elizabeth. It is also close to the University of Birmingham, making it a convenient place for students who don't want to pay for parking. Locals say the problem has become so bad that there is rarely a spare inch of kerb unoccupied during the day. The number of parked cars is not only a problem for residents, local waste management teams have been unable to drive dust carts down the street to collect bins. The Edgbaston Residents Association say the problem will only get worse when the surrounding area is transformed into a medical quarter, packed with research facilities next year. No space: Harborne Road in Edgabaston, above, is one of the worst affected by the parking rush Quiet suburbia: Harrisons Road in Edgbaston as it looks before the rush of cars arrive The group claims nobody at the city's planning department is taking an overview of development or the provision of car parks in the area. Further development nearby includes the new Dental Hospital at Pebble Mill, a Sainsbury's store and a Life Science Campus at Selly Oak, and a new university pool and sports centre. Plans are also being drawn up for a new £450 million Birmingham Children's Hospital in the area, while the Queen Elizabeth has an application with Government for a proton accelerator, which would require a new building. Parking hot-spot: The area is being flooded with vehicles because it is close to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and has free roadside parking At the same time the former Selly Oak Hospital site could be redeveloped for housing removing hundreds of car parking spaces there. Chairman of the Edgbaston Residents Association, Prof Ian Trayer, said: 'We, and other local organisations, have felt it necessary to complain about this. The Edgbaston Conservation Area is the largest in Birmingham and one of the largest in England, yet it is slowly being turned into a giant car park. He continued: 'There are an increasing number of such developments taking place in this area without any regard for the consequences to the local community. No-one seems to be taking a "helicopter" view of this and planning accordingly. Our exasperation is increased by the realisation that the temporary QE hospital parking at the former Selly Oak Hospital will soon go as the site is developed throwing more cars onto the surrounding streets. We can see a logic behind much of what is proposed, but only if someone sits down and looks at what they are trying to achieve and then works out how to accommodate it in this beautiful part of the city. Fighting back: Prof Ian Trayer, Chairman of The Edgbaston Residents Association standing on Harrisons Road which has been reduced to one lane by cars being parked on both sides A key concern is the assumption in planning policies that students do not own or use cars and that patients will use public transport to get to hospital, meaning that developers vastly underestimate the numbers of parking spaces needed. The Association have called upon Centro and National Express to stop at the front door of the hospital, but so far they have refused. The group is backed by Councillor Deirdre Alden who has said she cannot support any more development on the QE site until adequate parking is provided. She said: 'Council predictions that only a handful of people will drive there is patently laughable. Anyone who looks at the roads around the site can see the huge problems with parked cars. Now we have the added problem of these hire cars which people use to drive to work at the hospital and then leave in the streets around the site. Historic: The area is close to Edgbaston Cricket Ground where England play test matches each summer It is time the council got real on this issue and insisted on more car parking being provided. I object strongly to any more development until this is done. The city council's planning department insists that an overview of development is taken and that Edgbaston and Selly Oak feature heavily in the new Birmingham Development Plan, approved by the council last week. A spokesman said: 'The Plan identifies Edgbaston and Selly Oak as a major growth area, creating jobs and other benefits for the city. '