Residents endure parking misery near new supermarket

Residents endure misery near new supermarket Residents endure misery near new supermarket

RESIDENTS living near a busy supermarket say drivers’ inconsiderate parking is making their lives a misery.

Shoppers using the Tesco Express store in London Road, Rayleigh, are stopping on double yellow lines and clogging up surrounding roads including nearby Vernon Avenue.

Motorists are also bumping up grass verges and parking across driveways - causing a nuisance for people living nearby.

Paula Steadman, who has lived in Vernon Avenue for the past 30 years, said the problem needed sorting soon. S

he said: “Every Sunday afternoon is ruined for us residents because of the inconsiderate and illegal parking of Tesco customers.

“They will do anything to park as close to the store as they can and don't care if they park on the double yellow lines, on the drop down kerb area thereby obstructing the pavement, grass verges and over residents' driveways as they are ‘only popping to the cashpoint’.

“It is making our lives a misery.”

The Tesco opened in February this year, replacing an empty former off-licence.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said they were aware of the problem.

He said: “Essex Highways is working with the Local Highways Panel to investigate the potential installation of bollards across the footway at the junction of Vernon Avenue to prevent parking on the footway and associated damage from vehicles.”

Comments(36)

Heathy69 says...
12:14pm Tue 16 Oct 12

I bet they all shop there lol

grantd says...
12:33pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Its not just customers that illegal park there the delivery lorries are the worst making it hell for people round there. Nothing will get done about it

Major Incident says...
12:51pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Yet another example of a local authority planning department and the planning committee showing complete incompetence in assessing the whole environmental impact of such developments in residential areas.

Knowing how popular and busy convenience stores get a child could have worked out that the parking arrangements would be totally inadequate.

rjsizzler says...
12:59pm Tue 16 Oct 12

It was always going to be a victim of it's own success as it's in such a good location.

I don't know if there's a legal limit to the number of parking spaces Tesco could provide because they certainly haven't used the forecourt space to it's full potential. Why, for example is that area behind the lady in the photo bollarded? When it was the off licence you could drive through there.

Rochford Rob says...
1:18pm Tue 16 Oct 12

The very day after it was opened the newly turfed verge was churned up like a WW1 battlefield. It's owned by a huge corporation who don't really caer except about their profits and staffed by people who are probably on minimum wage with no concern about the neighbourhood. Their 'clientelle' probably leave a lot to be desired too - anyone unable to walk 25 yards to a shop for '20 Bensons and The Sun innit'

Should never been allowed to open imho - after all there's a prefectly good parade of shops almost opposite (or was)

Nebs says...
1:19pm Tue 16 Oct 12

A few traffic wardens, police, £50 fines, 3 points on the license, and word would soon spread.

aduksquack says...
1:21pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Heathy69 wrote:
I bet they all shop there lol
So what if they do? The complaint is that people are parking illegally and dangerously. They're not complaining about Tesco being there.

Councils should go zero tolerance on all driving offences and make the fine for a first offence £1000. That'd cure illegal parking.

Olivia2847 says...
1:23pm Tue 16 Oct 12

What does Tesco have to say?

bongking says...
1:27pm Tue 16 Oct 12

should not have built it there in the first place!!

xxxdave says...
1:35pm Tue 16 Oct 12

install some land mines along the verges, that should stop this illegal parking.

rochfordfa says...
1:53pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Bet it's not just shoppers parking on the verge. If you look around most streets there are cars parked on the verge whether there is a supermarker/shop close by or not

Eric Whim says...
2:03pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Olivia2847 wrote:
What does Tesco have to say?
every little helps....

Speedysnail says...
2:14pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Bet all the whingers use the store though. Residents.....there is only 1 in the picture. Bet the others were in Tesco and missed the photo? I cannot see any illegal parking in the picture. Only a few tyre prints from the delivery lorry on the verge. What a joke of a story.

rjsizzler says...
2:18pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Rochford Rob wrote:
The very day after it was opened the newly turfed verge was churned up like a WW1 battlefield. It's owned by a huge corporation who don't really caer except about their profits and staffed by people who are probably on minimum wage with no concern about the neighbourhood. Their 'clientelle' probably leave a lot to be desired too - anyone unable to walk 25 yards to a shop for '20 Bensons and The Sun innit' Should never been allowed to open imho - after all there's a prefectly good parade of shops almost opposite (or was)
With it's position on London Road, you get lots of people stopping by on the way into/out of Rayleigh and surrounding areas.

I suspect the problem is the opposite - that the 'clientelle' isn't all local.

Audioman says...
2:22pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Residents get a life and stop complaning

Olivia2847 says...
2:26pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Bollards!

MitchLive says...
2:56pm Tue 16 Oct 12

I live around the corner from here and think it is a complete mess. I hate walking past in my work clothes (suit) as my boots get all muddy and then flick up my trouser legs. I saw once some moron in a white van pull up and park on the triangular grass verge verge where the wooden bollards are! Bollard the whole lot!

No wonder one of the houses two up is for sale. Few weeks ago when I left for work at 6.30am I saw a huge lorry attempting to reverse into to car park and it took ages. It was making such a noise and so early! I had to cross at the lights as it was parking right across the pavement. Even by the time I got the parade of shops I could still hear it shunting backwards and forwards!

PB - Rayleigh says...
3:06pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Speedysnail wrote:
Bet all the whingers use the store though. Residents.....there is only 1 in the picture. Bet the others were in Tesco and missed the photo? I cannot see any illegal parking in the picture. Only a few tyre prints from the delivery lorry on the verge. What a joke of a story.
The reason there is no illegal parking and only 1 resident (me) in the photo is that it was taken at 8:30 on Friday morning - not peak time for offenders of 4:30pm on Sunday - and I had very short notice to get together a group of residents. I can, however, assure Speedysnail that there are several disgruntled residents in Vernon Avenue and the nearby London Road area, I am just one of the three official representatives. In the ten minutes it took to take this photo, I witnessed four vehicles REVERSE out of the car park entrance/exit onto London Road, manoeuvres that not only hold up the rush hour traffic but are extremely dangerous. This site is an accident waiting to happen. I can also confirm that I have NEVER stepped inside the store to make a purchase - I may look lonely but I'm not a hypocrite.

rjsizzler says...
3:36pm Tue 16 Oct 12

It is a mess there but obviously not in Tesco's interest to put bollards up as it might deter passing trade.

People reverse out because you can't drive through the car park any more. Don't know why the bollards are blocking it.

I bet that house for sale next door has taken a hit on its value.

APR says...
4:00pm Tue 16 Oct 12

I know one chap down there who has even had people park in his driveway.

Steve H says...
4:04pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Speedysnail wrote:
Bet all the whingers use the store though. Residents.....there is only 1 in the picture. Bet the others were in Tesco and missed the photo? I cannot see any illegal parking in the picture. Only a few tyre prints from the delivery lorry on the verge. What a joke of a story.
Are you retarded? Can you not read?

The issue isn't Tesco being there, it is the inconsiderate parking of those that use the store that is the problem.

GentleGiant says...
5:12pm Tue 16 Oct 12

If the residents call the police on every vehicle, which they are at liberty to do (not via 999) as an offence has taken place, then I can assure you that action will be taken. If the police say it is not for them, just inform them that the vehicle is a hazard and young children might be playing nearby and other vehicles using the roadway would not see them.

Also call the council on every vehicle, as council land is being damaged, even if it just the pavement.

Both the council and police will soon get fed up with the calls and take action.

reptile says...
5:37pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Frustrating when the authority's won't do anything, like pavement cyclists.

v.randy says...
6:57pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Flash houses,big 4x4's..the rich just aint ever happy.
If you can't stand a few cars briefly blocking your view of the estuary then................
...GET OUT!

Seasider90 says...
7:28pm Tue 16 Oct 12

There is a safety issue here. Cars have to often reverse out of the car park without a clear view. Kids from the nearby school use Tescos and there is an accident waiting to happen. Rochford Council are aware of this and when it happens I look forward to highlighting their pathetic views publicly. How on earth did they get planning permission? Oh forgot Tescos very deep pockets and legal teams.

JennynneJ says...
8:46pm Tue 16 Oct 12

xxxdave wrote:
install some land mines along the verges, that should stop this illegal parking.
So what town do actually live in Dave?
Your writing rubbish in all these online papers
What a idiot!

Harwich and Manningtree Standard,
Echo News,
Essex County Standard,
Basildon Recorder,
Colchester Gazette,
Clacton, Frinton & Walton Gazette,
Harwich & Manningtree Gazette,
Braintree, Witham, Halsted and Maldon Gazette,
East London and West Essex Guardian,
This is Local London,
Brent Wood Weekly News,
Southend Standard,
Maldon and Burnham Standard,
Thurrock Gazette.

Jane D says...
10:24pm Tue 16 Oct 12

This was pretty predictable, but did any of the local residents oppose the Tesco plan? And, much as I admire Gentle Giant's suggestions, just try getting hold of an Essex County council officer on a Sunday afternoon! Or any day of the week for that matter.

cazr2010 says...
9:00am Wed 17 Oct 12

This supermarket should never have been allowed here. money obviously passed hands to allow it to happen.

smiffy22 says...
1:25pm Wed 17 Oct 12

cazr2010 wrote:
This supermarket should never have been allowed here. money obviously passed hands to allow it to happen.
I agree. It's completely the wrong place fro the shop, given the lack of space and nature of the road. Definitely a brown envelope or two slipped into back pockets somewhere along the line!
Regards,
Smiffy22

PB - Rayleigh says...
4:10pm Wed 17 Oct 12

v.randy wrote:
Flash houses,big 4x4's..the rich just aint ever happy.
If you can't stand a few cars briefly blocking your view of the estuary then................

...GET OUT!
What planet are you on? Do you even know where Vernon Avenue is???? It is certainly nowhere near an estuary! We also haven't got flash houses, big 4x4 and if you could see my bank balance, you would hardly call me rich!!! Get real please

lillie1967 says...
4:56pm Wed 17 Oct 12

I am a local resident living a short distance away from this tesco...contrary to some comments local residents had no chance to oppose this so called supermarket, it was a done deal. The parade of shops opposite all campaigned against it but no one took a blind bit of notice, it just went ahead with no opportunity to oppose it...I have used this tesco but never driven there as quite honestly its supposed to be a 'local shop for local people' and hence i walk there. in reality this tesco should never have been allowed to have any parking spaces at all - why should it need any when it is supposed to serve locals who surely can walk a few yards.

Tesco are laughing all the way to the bank especially now that there will be 100 more houses on the old Eon site that were allowed to be built for a few backhanders to the Councillors...there was a lot of oppositition but again money talks...so this issue will only get worse unless the parking spaces at tesco are taken away...the infrastructure in this part of rayleigh cannot cope...

Nebs says...
11:36pm Wed 17 Oct 12

How about the local residents filling up the parking spaces one sunday, then filming all the illegal parking and send it to the council, police, youtube, and maybe even tesco head office.

Olivia2847 says...
9:20pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Nebs wrote:
How about the local residents filling up the parking spaces one sunday, then filming all the illegal parking and send it to the council, police, youtube, and maybe even tesco head office.
But they are doing that already ......

beppo1 says...
10:21pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I live in Eastwood and they took off our buses to Prince Ave Tesco, so I think its great having it there. On a bus route and not just for motorists,for a change!!

Seasider90 says...
4:57pm Fri 19 Oct 12

I was told that Rochford Council did not have deep enough pockets to oppose the Tesco store. Tesco's use a third party land agent to acquire the land and then go full steam ahead. It's actually a good store but parking there is ridicuous. If people are that cheesed off write to the idiots at Essex County Council (somebody tell me why we pay taxes to these clowns. Decisions can easily be made locally and we'd save a fortune). They are the most inefficient collection of overpaid penpushers ever invented.

r.balchin says...
12:36pm Thu 29 Nov 12

close it down

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