A BUSY Maldon road is set to become a one-way street - to allow resident parking bays to be introduced.

The restrictions will be introduced on Wantz Road, meaning drivers will only be able to travel towards the High Street.

It will allow residents living in Wantz Road, Wantz Street, America Street and Dyers Road to apply for £53 permits.

Residents have been calling for permit parking since 2013 and even started a petition demanding it be introduced.

Essex Highways is set to make the changes from November 5.

Work is set to be carried out to install the lines and signage for the new restrictions from October 22 to 26.

The plans went out for public consultation during May and June 2017, but following resident objections it was referred to Essex County Council’s then cabinet member for highways Ian Grundy.

In a letter sent out to residents affected by the changes, which has been seen by the Standard, Essex Highways, said: “After careful consideration, he decided that the above named order should be introduced as advertised.

“We have appointed a suitable contractor to make the necessary arrangements to install the scheme as soon as practicable.”

One resident in Wantz Road who lives before the junction at Queen Street said: “It doesn’t bother me. It’s probably more inconvenient for the people who live further up.

“Either I can go up to the High Street or I can nip down through Queen Street.”

Another resident who lives in Wantz Chase said: “The biggest problem is that all the traffic will now come up here towards the high street.

“With the trucks that come through, sometimes the High Street gets backed up.

“We usually just turn down and loop back around. We won’t be able to do that anymore.”

But residents praised plans for the permit parking.

One said: “I’m so excited, it’s going to be great.

“When we first moved in here, we had to knock down two poles so that the car could fit in the front of our house.

“We knew when we bought the place two years ago that this would be an issue.

“But now it’ll mean that we get our front garden back and have somewhere to park finally."