BILLERICAY High Street is the most ticketed road in the borough as traffic wardens clamp down on illegal parking near train stations.

Figures show the road was the most targeted in 2014/15 in the area patrolled by the South Essex Parking Partnership, which looks after Basildon.

Wardens handed out an average of two tickets every day, raking in £23,184 in payments over the course of the year.

Darrel Fenn, who works at Hamilton Carpets, in Billericay High Street, believes a lack of parking options in the town is an issue, but insists wardens should show more leniency.

He said: “A lot of people get quite peeved by it. If you get deliveries turning up, sometimes the wardens can be a little bit unreasonable.

“Delivery people aren’t taking liberties, but you have to improvise to get things done as soon as possible.

“We have had the spy cars coming along and taking pictures.

“Some people do take liberties and I understand why they are trying to keep the High Street clear.”

There is some on-street parking, but large parts of Billericay High Street have double yellow lines.

Carl Newsum, owner of Slipped Discs record store, added: “Parts of the road which used to be single yellow are now double yellow, so people may be getting caught out at evenings and weekends.”

Town centre streets feature highly in the list of most ticketed streets, with motorists in Wickford and Rayleigh high streets also being fined regularly.

But the list also features quiet residential streets which commuters try to use illegally.

The Gore and Roodegate, in Basildon, are both restricted to resident permit holders due to their close proximity to the town’s rail station.

A combined 536 fines were handed out in the two roads last year.

Phil Rackley, Basildon borough councillor for St Martin’s, said: “The resident parking scheme is in place for a good reason and if people are parking there illegally it is only reasonable they are fined.

“I think there is a strong case for actually extending the scheme. It is up to commuters to make sensible arrangements, even if it means paying for parking.”

Last week the Echo revealed a CCTV car operated by the parking partnership in Basildon borough made £20,000 profit last year.

Echo:

A driver parked on double yellow lines in Billericay High Street

Basildon borough's top ten streets for parking fines in 2014/15

  • High Street, Billericay – 718 fines totalling £23,184
  • High Street, Wickford – 407 fines totalling £11,725
  • The Gore, Basildon – 356 fines totalling £9,895
  • Market Road, Wickford – 277 fines totalling £8,144
  • Southernhay, Basildon – 242 fines totalling £8,260
  • Roodegate, Basildon – 180 fines totalling £2,406
  • Station Way, Basildon – 157 fines totalling £5,299
  • Pomfret Mead, Basildon – 139 fines totalling £2,106
  • Southend Road, Wickford – 137 fines totalling £4,190
  • Cherrydown East, Basildon – 131 fines totalling £4,340