Residents-only parking spots have been set aside for Watsons Bay locals for the last 50 years for permit-holders.

The traffic restriction has been found to be illegal by Transport for NSW and Woollahra Council has been ordered to change it.

This week, Woollahra Council voted in favour of a six-month trial where visitors could park in 70 previously private spots for 15 minutes at a time in an attempt to rectify the situation.

But the state government has vowed to reject the “impractical and unreasonable” proposal, which has been compared to speed dating.

Councillor Harriet Price was the only councillor to vote against implementing a 15-minute parking window on the grounds it was impractical for visitors trying to go to the beach.

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There are nearly 1000 parking spots in Watsons Bay, with close to 70 listed as permit holders only.

“There’s a conga line of people looking for a spot on a sunny day, so the only way to park is in a different suburb,” resident Andrew Moloney told 9News.

Locals say the spots are essential as they live in heritage-listed homes that cannot be altered to add a garage or a driveway. 

“We want people to come, we love them coming, we love sharing it with them – why wouldn’t we?” resident Yvonne Messenger told 9News.

A six-month trial of the 15-minute zones was to be implemented in the coming weeks but council may be forced to change tack if Transport for NSW steps in.