A PRIVATE firm has been drafted in to hand out fines to drivers who block the pavement or park on double yellow lines at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park.

Signs went up yesterdaywarning visitors wardens from UK Parking Control Limited now patrol the complex, off Cranes Farm Road.

Fines will be issued to people who use disabled spaces without a blue badge, and anyone not correctly parking in a marked bay.

Phil Peirce, manager of the Empire Cinema, said: “Our customers will be pleased. There is still no charge to park, and it will stop people parking where they shouldn’t, especially in the disabled bays. I think it’s actually a positive thing.”

Taxi driver Ralph Morgan, spokesman for the Basildon Hackney Carriage Association, said: “People seem unable to walk far from their car. It’s ridiculous.

“They block the road and pavement when there are loads of spaces further back in the car park.

“Handing out fines is a good idea. Whenever I drop anyone off at Festival Leisure, it takes ages to get in and out because the car park is so chaotic.”

Festival Leisure Park is currently undergoing a major revamp. Liquid, Envy, JJ’s and New York New York have all closed to make way for two new restaurants and an indoor trampoline park.

Work is also under way to transform the Sky Bar into a new nightclub, called Pandora.

A spokesman for Festival Leisure Park said: “To ensure park-goers’ safety and that everyone has adequate parking, a ticketing system has been introduced. While the parking is still free, parking conditions now apply under UK Parking Control Limited.

“This includes parking in a disabled space without the correct documentation on display.

We advise parking in the correct bays at all times to avoid any charges.

“The ticketing system has been put in place to prevent people parking on the pavements, on double yellow lines, double spaced parking or on-road parking. This will also include those parking in the disabled spaces, without valid documents.

“The system will apply to everyone, including staff.”