INCONSIDERATE parking, congested roads and rutted grass verges outside a Rayleigh convenience store could be stopped.

Plans to expand the car park outside Tesco Express, in London Road, have been approved by Rochford District Council.

The car park will move from six to 11 spaces, bollards will be put up to prevent parking on verges and double yellow lines will make parking on the pavement illegal.

Councillors raised several issues with the application, such as the size of the parking spaces, which are 20cm shorter than recommended guidelines, and the issue of Tesco blocking the disabled parking space – which doubles as a delivery bay – with storage cages.

Residents in neighbouring Vernon Avenue had described the situation as a “living nightmare” .

They said customers clogged up their road, destroyed the grass verges, and parked on double yellow lines.

Tesco will pay £3,000 to Essex County Council for double yellow lines to be extended on London Road to prevent motorists parking on the pavement.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We are delighted with the Development Committee’s decision and look forward to making these changes for the local community.”