Southend Council is taking swift action in a bid to try and stop the parking chaos on the central reservation of the town's hospital in Prittlewell Chase.

Cabinet members agreed last night to ask officers to close the loophole by trying to push through an emergency traffic order which would make it an offence to park there.

Executive member in charge of transport, Roger Weaver, said: "Parking on the central reservation of a dual carriageway is both a foolhardy and a dangerous act.

"We have to see what action we can take as quickly as possible to try and stop the situation which has arisen over the last few days.

"I have asked the officers to see how quickly we can put an emergency traffic order into place over the issue."

Members agreed to give town clerk George Kraiwiec the power to take action over the issue so it could be solved as soon as possible.

Rayleigh traffic police admitted today they were also powerless to take any action because there are no parking restrictions on the road.

Published Wednesday October 16, 2002

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