PLANS to charge some Shoebury residents to park outside their homes are set to be dropped.

The scheme was planned for roads around Shoebury train station.

It would have seen residents paying £10 per year for a permit to park, while commuters would have been forced to pay £240 per year to park in the roads.

Nearly 60 per cent of residents who responded to a questionnaire about the scheme opposed it.

Southend.gov.uk" target="_blank">Southend Council’s traffic and parking committee will now be asked to drop the scheme.

Anna Waite, councillor responsible for transport, said: “We would only have issued the number of permits to match the number of spaces and no more.

“I think it is a great shame. This proposal would have helped to ensure residents had priority parking and there would be extra free passes for relatives and carers.

“The plan has been hijacked by the Independents who have wanted to make a political issue out of it and have made some claims which have misled people.

“I still believe it was a good scheme and right for the area. In other areas around the town, such as the Colchester Road area, opposition councillors have supported proposals for similar schemes.

“It is a great shame something which could have been of benefit to the local people has been used as a political issue.”

Martin Terry, leader of the council’s Independent group, denied Mrs Waite’s claims the group had misled anyone and said they were just fighting for what residents wanted.

He said: “I’m pleased, but not surprised by the outcome of this issue.

“It was not the right scheme for the people who live there and is not the solution to parking problems in Shoebury.

“What is needed is better and cheaper parking at Shoebury rail station so commuters are not being forced to park on the local streets.

“We have always said the council should talk more to c2c so a sensible solution can be achieved without people being penalised and made to pay for parking outside their own homes.”