A FORMER Harlow councillor has criticised the authority for failing to stop hospital staff and visitors from using his neighbourhood as a "free car park".
Lee Dangerfield, of Park Mead, claims he and neighbours are being driven up the wall by the council’s refusal to make Hodings Road a permit-only parking zone for residents.
According to the former Tory councillor - who resigned from his post back in 2010 - the authority promised to introduce parking restrictions in the area last year but has yet to deliver on its pledge.
"We’re fed up with our road being used as a free car park for people using the hospital," he told the Star this week. "It’s so bad that I often have to park hundreds of yards away from my house.
"I can’t get anywhere near my own front door because staff working at Princess Alexandra Hospital have block-parked all the way along our street to be as close to work as possible.
"All residents want the council to do is to stick to their promise to make this a permit-only zone like Hamstel Road. It’s just not fair on anyone living here."
The council has enforced restrictions along Hamstel Road since 2005 in a bid to prevent PAH staff and visitors from blocking residents’ access to their homes.
But councillor Tony Hall, portfolio holder for the environment, said the authority had never received a formal request to introduce a similar permits-only zone in Hodings Road.
"While the council introduced a residential parking scheme nearby on Hamstel Road, it has never had a request to put a scheme along the whole length of Hodings Road," he said.
"If there is evidence of a problem and residents are supportive of the scheme and are willing to pay for permits then an application can be made to the North Essex Parking Partnership, which is responsible for introducing new schemes."
