A PARKING permit scheme could be extended in Shoebury to tackle residents’ frustrations about tourists and beach-goers parking outside their homes.

As things stand, there is a resident permit scheme in Shoebury High Street and some surrounding roads from 9am to 2pm to deter commuters.

However, residents have demanded the council extend this to 9pm from Monday to Sunday to deter visitors to East Beach from parking outside their homes for free and taking up valuable parking spaces.

The scheme would also include homes in Dane Street and some in Hinguar Street who were left out of the previous scheme.

Consultation notices have now gone up and residents have until November 1 to object.

Sally Horrigan, from East Beach Residents Association, which helped bring about the consultation, said: “We were hoping this would have all gone through for the summer but it was delayed because of the council changes. Dane Street was supposed to be included in the original scheme and they weren’t and it’s right by East Beach, so they were really niggled because they weren’t included.

“They kicked up a right stink about it because they’ve got no off-street parking and they were having a lot of problems. People don’t want to pay to park their cars any more, so that’s why it’s gone out to be extended to include weekends.”

Ms Horrigan added: “It’s not so much of a problem in the winter but it is in the summer and there are more events that are going to be going on now.

“Not everybody is happy with it though to be fair. Some don’t want it but people in Hinguar Street in the original cottages haven’t got any parking at all and because they’ve built on Hinguar School, it’s made it much more congested but I can see there are pros and cons for everybody.”

One unhappy resident who took to Sheobury Residents’ Association to voice their concerns. said the permit scheme was hitting the elderly.

They said: “I hope all you miserable people who pushed for the permits in Shoebury High Street and all surrounding areas are proud of yourselves.

“My nan has just asked me to get her some visitors permits as she lives in the area and can’t work out how to do it herself. Well I’ve just looked and it’s confused me let alone an elderly person.”