Row erupts over 'Friday prayers' as police hit out at inconsiderate drivers parking near mosques

George Bunn
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:58:29 +0000

A parking row has erupted after police officers confronted motorists who had parked illegally near mosques during Friday prayers.

Vehicles were left on double yellow lines, across pavements, on grass verges and around bends at the junction of Simmons Drive and Quinton Road West on Friday, April 17 in the Birmingham neighbourhood.

West Midlands Police (WMP) confirmed they had spoken to drivers who had abandoned their cars in positions that blocked the road.

A spokesman from the force said: "We're aware of issues with inconsiderate parking in the Simmons Drive area and are working with partners to tackle the problem."

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Officers gave verbal warnings to those responsible for the obstructions during their visit.

Local councillor Sam Forsyth attributed the particularly severe congestion to the proximity of two mosques in the area, combined with the school run coinciding with prayer times.

She added that friction had developed between local residents and those visiting for worship, while bus drivers operating the number 24 route were struggling to complete turns because motorists ignored parking restrictions at the junction.

Councillor Forsyth said: "I receive a lot of complaints about this parking from frustrated residents who respect people's right to worship & are simply asking for a little consideration before tempers fray too much, No one wants anyone hurt."

The councillor urged drivers to be more mindful of the disruption their parking causes to the community.

Labour MP Preet Gill witnessed the parking chaos firsthand when she toured the neighbourhood alongside a local police inspector on Friday afternoon. She encouraged residents to persist with reporting incidents to authorities.

Mrs Gill, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said: "This is the kind of parking we will not tolerate.

"I'm out here with our inspector and our local police to make sure that people are considerate of those residents that live here and when they're visiting our area that they are respectful not parking on grass verges, not parking on double yellow lines, obstructing buses from getting through."

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The MP's presence underscored the seriousness with which local representatives are treating the ongoing dispute between worshippers and residents.

West Midlands Police confirmed they would continue collaborating with community partners to resolve the persistent parking problems in the area.

The force made clear that future enforcement would be more stringent, with officers prepared to issue fixed penalty notices to those who park illegally.

A WMP spokesman said: "We will continue to work with the local community to ensure the safety of all road users, and will issue fixed penalty notices in the future to people who are parked illegally."