PLANS are being drawn up to install bollards and a no waiting zone area outside a block of town centre flats to stop illegal parking.

Drivers are parking and waiting in cars around Trafford House in Cherrydown East, Basildon, which is very close to Basildon Station, and residents and councillors are calling for action.

Changes have been made to raise the level of the pavements in a bid to prevent the parking but motorists are still finding other ways of mounting the pavement to park.

Some motorists have even been seen parking at the building’s service entrance.

Essex County Council is looking into the strict no waiting zone outside the building and a possible physical barrier to keep motorists off the walkways.

Kerry Smith, independent councillor for Nethermayne, said something needed to be done about the parking issue.

He said: “There are no parking restrictions there, so parking tickets cannot be issue for people who park where they shouldn’t.

“Some residents have raised concerns about not being able to get deliveries if a no waiting zone is implemented.

“The taxi bay in the road will be fine and not affected by these changes.

“I think that we need restrictions in this area as it has become too relaxed.

“I do broadly support the plans but we need to make sure that people can get deliveries.

“I don’t know why this wasn’t done before. I think that when the homes were built that it was thought the residents there would be commuters and wouldn’t be using cars.”

Mr Smith said that the county council is due to announce its decision about what, if any, measures should be introduced in the next two months.

Essex Council said that in Cherrydown East, under the terms of the planned no waiting zone, motorists would be allowed to briefly stop in order to pick up or drop off passengers at the train station, but would not be allowed to wait for passengers or leave their vehicles unattended.