5:00pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Geoff Percival
A BUS company will axe services on a congested Westcliff road unless parking problems are resolved.
Carlton Avenue runs behind Southend Hospital and parking is allowed on both sides of the road.
Residents say the road is constantly clogged up by parents dropping off and picking up kids at Earls Hall Primary School and hospital staff parking for work.
Now, First Buses has told the council it will send the half hourly, No 25 Basildon to Southend bus away from Carlton Avenue, via Prittlewell Chase, unless something is done.
Alan Pilbeam, managing director of First East England, said: “We have been experiencing difficulties in the Carlton Avenue area, due to congestion caused by inconsiderate parking, and a number of collisions with parked vehicles have been reported.
“To this end we are working in partnership with Southend Council to come up with a solution which will avoid having to completely reroute the service along Prittlewell Chase.”
Anna Waite, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said the route could be changed by October unless the problem was resolved.
She said: “We have told the company we are looking at double yellow lines on the road, as well as the opening of the multi-storey car park at the hospital, but it gave us an ultimatum it would do this.
“I am determined we will retain a bus service along Carlton Avenue because it is important for the residents and as part of our transport network. I hope we can continue to talk to the company about the situation, but they seem to be determined to force the issue.”
Drivers on the route regularly have been experiencing problems because larger vehicles are being regularly parked on the road.
One driver said: “We have been complaining about this road for ages without any response and now we’ve told the council they’ve got until October to do something.”
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