FRUSTRATED residents are hopeful hospital staff and patients will soon be banned from parking in their streets.

The results of an investigation into a series of strict parking restrictions, introduced around Southend Hospital last year, will be unveiled by Southend Council next Thursday.

Residents on the edge of the targeted zone hope it will mean the end of visitors and staff clogging up their streets, instead of shelling out for the hospital’s own car parks.

Ric Morgan, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Prittlewell, said he had been besieged by complaints from people living on the Somerset estate, Westcliff.

He said: “Something has to be done about it, because it has clearly had a big impact on these people’s lives. What we do not need, however, is a knee-jerk reaction.

“We need to look at this carefully and come up with a solution which will not create further problems down the line.”

Council chiefs agreed to introduce restrictions around the hospital after repeated complaints from residents that they could not find a parking space outside their homes.

Eighteen streets – one of the largest parking management schemes in the country – are now controlled by pay-and-display bays, residents’ permits and yellow lines.

Parking bays which are still available to visitors have shortened time limits, to try to discourage staff from using them as an alternative to the hospital’s own car parks.

However, the changes have thrown up problems on the edges of the zone, in streets which residents claim were never affected before.

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for Westborough, cited Midhurst Avenue as a road which was constantly filled by staff trying to avoid the £5 daily charge for parking at the hospital.

Tony Cox, Tory councillor responsible for transport, said it had always been the council’s intention to hold a review. It is not yet clear whether the review will suggest actual changes or advocate further investigation.

However, Mr Cox said there was “no doubt” the parking restrictions had caused problems.

He added: “The question is – how do we move forward?.

“An interesting point which has been raised by this is how far people are prepared to walk to avoid charges.”