CALLS have been made to introduce double yellow lines on a busy Burnham road.

Residents of Devonshire Road have called on Burnham Town Council to install double yellow lines on the south side of the road, which would see the loss of eight parking spaces.

It has been claimed the parked cars cause congestion for motorists travelling to and from the junction with Station Road and Foundry Lane, meaning cars need to mount the kerb to pass.

Peter Davidson, a resident of the road, put forward the case at a Burnham Town Council meeting on Tuesday.

He said: “For me, it’s a no brainer. The eight parking spaces that would be lost is a price worth paying to ensure cars do not mount the pavements to get around others during busy times. These pavements have many parents and children walking along them.

“I’ve been using the junction with Station Road for the best part of the last 30 years, and it is absolutely lethal, people really have to push to get through, there are people waiting for ages to get anywhere.”

However, town councillors were less convinced the plan would work.

Bob Calver, highways co-ordinator for the council, said: “There is as many complaints about the lack of parking spaces as there are about parking safety.

“I don’t believe there is a substantial safety risk to warrant the loss of the eight spaces, and I think the people of Burnham would be very averse to lose spaces they have already got.”

Councillor Ron Pratt raised the issue that if the double yellow lines were installed on one side of the road, motorists would simply park on the other side.

Deputy Mayor of Burnham Louise Pudney believe a solution would be to make Devonshire Road a one way street.

She said: “I do see the need to improve the safety, but I don’t think the double yellows would work. I would suggest we make it a one way road, it would solve the entire problem.”

Council members voted to contact The South Essex Parking Partnership, who are responsible for parking in Burnham, to put together an assessment on what the best option would be.