Campaigners today hailed a "brilliant decision" to press ahead with residents' only parking schemes in central Southend.

Results of Southend Council's parking survey showed 67 per cent of residents in the Milton and Hartington Road area support the creation of a new controlled parking zone

Resident Paul Ilett, 33, who's been co-ordinating a campaign for residents-only parking in the area for the past three years said he was delighted with the decision which supported what he and his fellow campaigners have been telling the council for years.

He said: "We were very concerned when we first saw the questionnaire because we didn't feel it was worded fairly.

"Residents were asked what times they would support the introduction of parking restrictions but were only given three options to tick: Daytime Monday-Friday; daytime Monday-Saturday; or Other.

"There was no box you could tick that said evenings or weekends and it looked a bit of a fix.

"Most of the residents I've spoken to over the past few years - and I'm talking hundreds rather than dozens - made it clear to me that they had severe problems in the evenings and on Sundays as well. But these results show residents firmly support a new scheme and want it introduced during the day - but also in the evening and at weekends too."

A residents' only parking scheme would mean town centre visitors - travelling to the shops, restaurants, pubs or clubs - would be barred from parking in the town centre's residential streets and forced to use car parks provided by the council.

Mr Ilett added:"We're delighted the council has finally taken this problem seriously and look forward to the next stage."

Published Thursday, June 26, 2003

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