PARKING restrictions could be brought in to ease congestion on a Basildon trading estate.

Cabbies and company owners have spent 18 months campaigning for action to stop parked cars blocking Festival Way, a busy bus and lorry route which has seen several accidents in recent times.

In the latest crash, in January, a lorry smashed into the side of a car, flipping it over on its roof.

Essex County Council’s local highways panel has now approved £10,000 to spend on a feasibility study of the effect of banning parking in the road.

Ian Gale, operations manager of the David Lloyd gym, launched a petition last October, calling for restrictions – and collected 2,000 signatures in just two days.

He said: “We’re really pleased the council has finally agreed to look at parking measures.

“We did previously ask if we could pay for yellow lines ourselves, but we were turned down.

“Customers and staff are always complaining about the parking problems and congestion.

It’s a nightmare.

“There have been a few accidents as a result, which is the most worrying thing. Parking measures would make the road a lot safer to use.”

Things are so bad in Festival Way some cabbies now refuse to to drop off fares or pick them up.

Ralph Morgan, of Basildon Hackney Carriage Association, said: “After the first accident there, 18 months, I contacted Essex County Council and was told there needed to be three accidents before it would look at parking restrictions.

“This has been going on for a long time now, so it’s good we finally have some funding.

“It’s a miracle no one has been killed there.”

Mark Ellis, Ukip ward councillor for Laindon Park, and a member of the highways panel, added: “Looking into introducing parking restrictions often costs just as much as actually implementing the measures.

“It’s the first step, but it’s a big step in the right direction.”