A BOURNEMOUTH bed and breakfast owner has expressed his frustration with coaches blocking the road outside his property.

Jorge Mesquita, 63, has owned the Shirley Hotel B&B in St Michael’s Road, on the West Cliff, for more than a decade.

However, he says he has become fed up with the coaches delivering tourists to nearby hotels blocking the narrow road, which usually has cars parked on both sides.

“There are two daily which come at sort-of regular times and unload lots of OAPs,” he said.

“My customers have big problems with coaches blocking my driveway.

“Also the emergency services can’t get by.

“They can be there for up to two hours. I have approached drivers asking if they can move, but the answer is invariably ‘sorry but I’m unloading’. Often they aren’t even there.”

Mr Mesquita said he had tried contacting police and the council about the issue. He showed the Echo correspondence from the council suggesting the authority will send enforcement officers to the road at the relevant times.

Also, in an email, Councillor Rae Stollard said she had spoken with hoteliers and learned that many drivers unload in nearby Hahnemann Road in a bid to avoid creating a blockage. With a high concentration of hotels among residential properties in West Cliff, coaches unloading have been cited as a problem by residents in other areas, including West Cliff Road.

Bournemouth council has no specific policy regarding coaches dropping off. A spokesman said: “This is managed, where possible, through the application of traffic restrictions which are subject to a legal procedure involving a public consultation.”

Jamie Griffiths, council traffic manager, said: “We’re not aware of any traffic management issues related to coach parking on St Michael’s Road. Coach bays are provided in key locations to encourage a more co-ordinated drop-off and pick-up facility in the town centre.”

Residents can report issues with coach parking to traffic@bournemouth.gov.uk