HOUSEHOLDERS in Southend are becoming frustrated by large coaches which are parking in residential areas rather than a designated car park.

Coaches have their own parking area in the Arriva Garage, Short Street, as part of an agreement with Southend Borough Council.

But instead drivers are parking in streets where people live and in nearby shopping areas near to Thorpe Bay.

Southchurch Boulevard, Lifstan Way and Thorpe Hall Avenue are among the most heavily affected areas with residents and business owners saying they have seen ten coaches parked along the streets on occasions.

Martin Terry, councillor for the Thorpe ward has been critical of the council as he feels the issue is becoming greater and residents are unable to drive down their own roads. He said: “They are parking in side roads and it is frankly a big issue. There are clear sign posts saying ‘park in Arriva’.

“The problem is that they have to pay to park in there and they are instead using residential streets.”

Residents with limited mobility are becoming majorly affected by the coaches that are parking on Southchurch Boulevard, allegedly to avoid paying the “high” parking prices which Mr Terry says amounts to £15 a day.

Roger Bright, 76 from Grange Gardens, Southend runs the Thorpe Bay Bridge Club in Southchurch Boulevard.

He said: “Some times because of the coaches we have a lot of elderly people who cannot park outside and have to walk a long way to get here. I counted eight coaches a few weeks ago that were parked in Lifstan Way.”

Mr Bright says the issue has been on going outside the club for a number of weeks now.

Paul Van Looy, councillor for St Lukes ward and owner of Grumpy’s Diner in Southchurch Boulevard has been told by a few residents that coaches parking in their streets is restricting access to the streets.

He said: “Some people from my ward have got driveways but other residents need to park on the streets and the coaches are blocking parking on both sides of the streets.”