MOTORISTS could be allowed to park for an extra hour along parts of London Road under council plans.

Large sections of the road, from Southend to Leigh, could see waiting times doubled.

It follows the success of Southend Council introducing two-hour parking in Leigh streets Rectory Grove, Leigh Road and Broadway last year in a bid to boost business.

Restrictions will also be looked at, in the new financial year, in Southchurch Road, under the same review.

Parking is currently limited to one hour in four between 9am and 6pm.

Sally Tyrie, owner of Sally’s Out of Curiosity second-hand shop, in London Road, Westcliff, said it was good news for businesses.

She added: “It’s about time the council did something to help businesses. The parking here is a nightmare.

“We get people who come in here and have a look and, part way through, they have to leave. I even got a timer a couple of years ago so people knew when to go. Two hours parking would be much better.”

Tony Probert, owner of nearby Probert Motors, said: “I’m definitely in favour of that.

“It wouldn’t affect my business too much, but it would help the shops, cafes and restaurants, definitely.”

Servet Kilic, owner of the Lemon Tree restaurant, in Southchurch Road, wrote to the council asking to change the parking restriction times on his road.

He said: “It is really good news if the council will listen, but we need to keep talking about it.”

Cheryl Hindle-Terry, Southend Council’s traffic management team leader, said the council would always look at changing waiting restrictions in roads when it is raised.

She added: “Revising waiting restrictions in the borough typically comes about through a mixture of requests from residents and proactive investigations by our officers.

“Certainly, we’d welcome any sensible suggestions and will always appraise them for both practicality and road safety improvement.”