NEW flights from Southend Airport will compound a long running parking problem in Prittlewell, it has been claimed.

Residents in East Street and Station Avenue, Prittlewell, are fed up with commuters and holidaymakers parking in their roads and they fear the situation will get worse with easyJet flights from Southend Airport.

Prittlewell station is one stop from the new airport station and only two minutes on the train, so residents worry people will park in their roads and jump on the train. To combat the problem, they are calling for residents-only parking.

Paul Van Looy, ward councillor for the area, said: “People in East Street and Station Avenue have said they would like to see measures introduced because the problem is likely to get worse.

“Some residents have said they would like to see permit parking.”

Mr Van Looy said there are currently no parking restrictions in either road meaning both get clogged with cars that do not always belong to residents.

Sherrel Brown, 47, a curtain maker of Station Avenue, said other factors contribute to the problem.

She said: “The problems are bad enough because of the Priory Mews flats in Station Avenue which give residents just one space per property.

“The car park is always half empty, but visitors park in the road. It’s ridiculous. Weekends are even worse when Southend United play.

“We have people who park here and go off on holiday because you see the same car for four or five days. I suppose it could get worse.”

Tony Cox, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said: “I haven’t been made aware of the problem, but if the residents want to approach me or a ward councillor and explain the issues, I will pass the details to officers.”