Airport passengers causing 'major' parking issues in Takeley

Lorries struggling to get down Parsonage Road in Takeley due to parking <i>(Image: Carris Campion)</i>
Lorries struggling to get down Parsonage Road in Takeley due to parking (Image: Carris Campion)
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Villagers in Takeley, near Stansted Airport, say that holidaymakers leaving their cars in the village to avoid paying for parking are causing major problems.

Lorries and buses struggle to drive down Parsonage Road in the village due to the excessive number of parked vehicles left reportedly by people avoiding Stansted Airport’s parking fees.

The highways panel has been told that there has been an increase in the number of cars parking along the road, which are parked there legally according to current rules.

Residents are now calling for the road to be given double red lines, meaning that vehicles cannot stop there at any time.

Resident Brian Francis said: “It’s normally a nightmare because they’re all along here; it’s worse in the summer.

“We need double red lines. Definitely. It’s getting bad. This is the main road to the airport.

“They can afford to go on holiday, but they don’t want to pay for parking. They are taking the mickey out of the people who live around this area.

“If the car is taxed and MOT’d, they can park wherever they like. The only thing to do is for the council to stop them parking here in the first place.”

Brian says the problem has been made worse by the 7.5-tonne weight limit at the top of Parsonage Road, which prevents heavier vehicles from using the airport bypass, Thremhall Avenue.

Residents say that issues have also been caused by the implementation of double red lines on other roads in the village.

There is now a double red route on the north side of the B1256 opposite its junction with the south side at the junction with The Pastures, pushing more parking onto Parsonage Road as holidaymakers run out of places to leave their cars.

Brian added: "This road should be clear all the way. It’s ridiculous to tell the truth. When the cars are parked here, people can’t get out for love of money."

Carris Campion, another resident, said the big problem is when two lorries meet travelling in opposite directions with only one lane to pass.

She said: "It’s basically pushed everyone down here, but it’s causing a lot of road rage incidents.

"The other day, a Range Rover mounted the pavement completely and drove at speed down the road to get around. It’s causing road rage."

The county council has said it is working to introduce a scheme that "best meets the needs of all road users".

A resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: "I would prefer yellows as red means I can’t have visitors pulling outside my house. I’m surprised there hasn’t been an accident.

"Something needs to be done. I can’t see why they just can’t implement a one-hour restriction because that works."

Essex county councillor Susan Barker, who represents the area, explained at a full council meeting in January how the parish council has been trying to get red lines down the road for the past two years, but it has not been implemented.

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