MORE than 1,000 residents living close to Southend seafront are being urged to back a parking permit scheme to stop roads being blocked.

The Association of Residents of Kursaal wants people to end their parking misery and vote for resident only bays to stop town centre workers and holidaymakers from parking outside their homes.

They claim that on weekdays their driveways are regularly blocked, while on hot days it is “impossible” to park on roads close to the seafront.

But fears have been raised that if a ban comes in, which will affect 16 roads, it could add to the strain of seafront and town centre parking.

Keith Kelsey, the association’s chairman, said: “From early in the morning, it’s like a tide coming in which doesn’t go out until about 5.15pm.

“If you drop off the kids at school in the morning, you’re lucky if you can get a place within ten-minute walk of your house when you return because town centre workers park up and leave their cars there all day.

“If you go out shopping in the car on a sunny weekend, the road is clogged up by daytrippers by the time you get back. It’s horrific.”

Mr Kelsey claimed a van had been parked on his road for three months, while roads were regularly clogged up by larger vehicles parking to avoid town centre charges.

The group has emailed Southend Council about the problems.

The authority sent out letters to hundreds of households on the estate asking them for a yes or no as to whether they back the proposals.

The council forgot to put return forms in each letter, but the association has offered to collect each letter and return it to the council by the August 10 deadline.

If 40 per cent of residents respond, the proposals will go to the council’s cabinet for approval, but only if 70 per cent of the respondants say yes.

William Nicholson, 53, of Kenilworth Avenue, added: “It’s a pain and it’s quite dangerous for kids as there are always cars parading up and down the road looking for a space.

“They regularly park over our driveways and that is very annoying.

“We also have cars double parking regularly and that is dangerous.”

Les Ellingford, 68, of Kenilworth Avenue, added: “Because of the vans, it’s sometimes hard to get out of my driveway as you can’t see anything coming.”I’ve signed yes for the parking permits.”

A public consultation on the plans will be held tomorrow between 6pm and 10pm, and Saturday between 10am and 2pm at Victoria Avenue’s Civic Centre.

Council blunder

BUNGLING council officials forgot to put return forms in consultation packs to hundreds of residents...

meaning they could not respond.

Instead, members of the Association for Residents of Kursaal will knock on every door in the area to collect the responses and will hand them into Southend Council before the August 10 deadline.

Two permits for a household will cost £15, while a third will set residents back £30. If they have four vehicles, a fourth permit is £40.

If 70 per cent of respondents say yes to resident bays, the proposals will go to the council’s cabinet committee, who will decide on whether to give them approval.

Independent Martin Terry, councillor responsible for transport, said: “I am speaking to officers to see if the consultation can be distributed again. In the meantime, I would urge resident to complete their consultation forms and hand them to a member of the residents’ association.