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DRIVEN OUT
We live metres from 70mph road & we’re last residents left on street…everyone has been forced out but we’re holding on
'It has been a nightmare for over two years now'
A COUPLE who are the last residents standing on their street have opened up about what it's like living there after everyone else was forced out.
Gail Roberts, 64, and her husband live just metres from a 70mph road - but say they don't want to leave their "dream home".
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But the couple say for months they've been arguing with students who keep parking across their driveway and blocking them in.
They've dubbed it a "nightmare" as Gail suffers from multiple sclerosis and has been forced to miss hospital appointments due to the University of Derby students' selfish parking.
Plus, the couple says none of the authorities will do anything about it because their house - and their neighbours' - were condemned.
The problem stems from plans to build a £250million flyover on the A38 dual-carriageway to relieve congestion at Derby’s Markeaton island roundabout.
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Plans for the development have circulated since the 1990s but in 2019 the Government signed an order obliging National Highways to buy up the homes of those living nearby to facilitate the project.
Now the Roberts’ are the only ones left on what was an access-only road where parking was limited to residents of 16 detached houses.
But when The Sun visited there were around 70 cars parked on the street in front of the boarded-up homes.
Almost all the vehicles belonged to university students, whose site is a short walk from the road - seeing them take advantage of free parking.
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They told The Sun: "It has been a nightmare for over two years now.
"The police and the council just argue over who is responsible for the road and nothing changes."
Earlier this year, the Roberts' accepted an offer from National Highways of £475,000 but have struggled to find a suitable replacement home that can accommodate Gail’s medical needs.
So they stay in their home and face the daily arrival of dozens of cars.
The couple say the police won't listen, and nor will the council - and they're not sure where to turn next.
They added: "We have taken down number plates, complained to everyone we can complain to but it stays the same.
"We have got so fed up that we park our car in the road just to make the point and remind people that we live here. They have to come and knock the door and ask us to move.
"This was our dream home. It is close to the A38 but when you are inside you don’t hear a thing.
"It is a great location, next to Derby’s best park and I can walk to work so we only need one car.
"But we will go. There’s no other option. We just need to find the right place."
The University of Derby told The Sun: “The University has no powers to enforce parking restrictions in the local area nor police parking in surrounding streets.
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"We regularly remind our students and staff to adhere to parking restrictions, be good neighbours and respect our local residents.
“As a civic university, we are proud to be home to a vibrant community of staff and students who regularly undertake volunteering and support activities in the local area, and we are committed to fostering positive relationships with those who live and work close by.”
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