A bid to stop motorists parking outside a busy parade of Southend shops has been delayed until a nearby scheme for traffic lights has been considered.

Traders and residents were delighted with the deferral after they lobbied highways chiefs about the plans for Southchurch Road.

Councillors on yesterday's traffic and parking management sub-committee were expected to approve the scheme for a kerb build-out, pedestrian island and double yellow lines between Lovelace Avenue and Ilfracombe Road.

However, sub-committee chairman, Lib Dem Chris Mallam, proposed to defer the scheme when he was faced with strong opposition from Tory and Labour councillors.

Officers said the scheme could be delayed to see if future plans for installing traffic signals on Southchurch Road and Bellevue Road would cut road accidents.

The plan to ban parking on the section of Southchurch Road was aimed at reducing the number of accidents in the road.

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