A GROUP of shopkeepers have become so fed up with problems in their road they’re taking matters into their own hands.

West Road, in Shoebury, was once a busy and bustling shopping parade, but has slowly deteriorated.

Now, the West Road Traders and Community Association has been set up and members are hoping to breathe new life into the area.

The group, which has 32 members, hope to tidy up the area, put on community events and address the problem of parking to attract new businesses.

Nick Carr, 42, chairman of the association and owner of Carr’s Funeral Services, said: “The road has been run down for a number of years, but Southend Council doesn’t seem to have done much, so we have decided to try to help ourselves.

“We have a number of aims, like filling empty shop units with a greater variety of businesses and not just another charity shop or takeaway, because there are too many of them down here already.

“Also, we want something done about the parking situation as shoppers are not allowed to park here for long with the spy car driving around. If we could assure people they could stay for longer then we’d get more trade.”

They are also hoping to ask residents what they want to see in the area. Mr Carr said this community aspect of the group will play an important role in bringing the businesses and residents together.

He added: “We’ll look at doing events, such as the hot naan charity event going on at Polash right now, to show our faces in the community to try to promote ourselves and the good things going on elsewhere in Shoebury and Southend.

“Another example would be last Christmas, when I dressed up as Santa Claus for St Andrew’s Church, which is at the end of the road. If we can get involved in more events like those, then it could help us all.”

Rubel Khalique, 24, co-owner of Polash Indian restaurant, also said engaging with the community would make a big difference to improving the street.

As vice-chairman of the association he said: “We want to help the community, from the young all the way up those who have retired.

“We even have spaces on our committee for them, as we want this to not just be about our businesses, but as a port of call for someone who is interested in starting up a project locally, like a neighbourhood watch group.

“If we can get that sense of community running around here, then it will benefit everyone.”