A woman was left stunned after being “rammed” by a man painting double yellow lines on her Belvedere street.

Monika D’Agate told the News Shopper she felt as if she was living in a “dictatorship, and not a democracy” after the incident in Poplar Mount.

Earlier this month, the driving instructor, who has lived in the street for 32 years, had started a petition with her neighbours opposing plans by Bexley Council to add the double yellow lines.

Last Thursday (November 28), she confronted a council contractor who had started to paint the road markings outside her house, as well as in neighbouring Methuen Road.

Footage from a CCTV camera mounted on her wall shows the moment she is “rammed” by the painting machine as she attempts to block its path.

The man, who is wearing a hi-vis jacket, can be seen backing up around half a dozen times so that he can push the wheelbarrow into Ms D’Agate’s outstretched foot.

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“Eventually I moved away because he was crushing my shoe,” she said. “He then finished painting the lines.

“All of my neighbours are outraged that this has happened and that the council has gone against the people’s wishes.

“We think we don’t live in a democracy – we live in a dictatorship.”

Bexley Council has now said that "any use of force by contractors is unacceptable". 

A spokesperson added: "We are addressing this matter directly with the contractor involved to ensure appropriate standards of behaviour are upheld."

Ms D'Agate has also said that the markings are “unnecessary” on a street that has never had any issues with parking, and that she was worried that neighbours would now find it harder to find a space outside their own homes.

She claims that around 90 people have signed her petition opposing the changes – and that none of them were informed that a contractor was to carry out the work last week.

Around 90 neighbours oppose the plans according to Monika D’Agate Around 90 neighbours oppose the plans according to Monika D’Agate (Image: Supplied)

The petition states: “Many residents, including those with limited mobility, may face difficulty accessing their homes with restricted parking spaces.

“[There are] concerns for shift workers unable to find parking close to their home late at night in the early hours of the morning.”

Ms D’Agate has now urged the council to remove the double yellow lines and to consult with neighbours about any future plans for the road.

“People are not listened to at all, and the council does whatever it wants without actually informing people about its proposals,” she explained.

The driving instructor added that she was told the proposals were to “improve sight lines” in the road, although she believes the council is “trying to create a problem that does not exist.”

A Bexley Council spokesperson said: "These restrictions were introduced to improve road safety by reinforcing the Highway Code’s requirements to keep junctions clear of parked vehicles, thereby enhancing visibility and access for all road users.  

"The proposal was advertised through legally required channels, including on-street notices and local press announcements.

"The lines are deliberately limited in length to minimise the impact on parking while addressing road safety concerns."