VIGILANT residents who have been monitoring lorries that clog up the entrance to a town park are now pinning their hopes on parking restrictions.

Truck drivers are increasingly pulling up overnight in Brooker Road and Cartersfield Road, Waltham Abbey, near the entrance to the Town Mead playing fields, and urinating in the street, as there are no toilet facilities there.

Diana Kellard, 68, who runs Renaissance Mouldings picture framing company in Brooker Road, said: “It’s absolutely diabolical and dangerous.

“It’s a complete stalemate – if I go to the bank and back, I can’t get back onto the road. They come from about 4pm and park up on the pavements.”

Bill Davies, chairman of the Waltham Abbey Neighbourhood Action Panel, has sent dozens of the lorries’ registration numbers to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa), which is responsible for enforcing HGV laws.

“Vosa take the details, but they can’t tell us anything more than the fact that they’re putting together a file,” he said. “It would be nice to get a little bit more from them.

“My real concern is keeping the Essex County Council highways department involved.

“I’ve been told the painting of double yellow lines is about to be signed off.”

He added that he was keen to see the entrance to the park cleared.

“It’s the only vehicle entrance to the Town Mead and a lot of families and visitors go there,” he added. “It’s unpleasant when some drivers relieve themselves up against their wheels.”

Elizabeth O’Connell, of Vosa, said in a letter to the action panel: “While we are unable to provide feedback on any intelligence information that we receive, due to the possible sensitivity of its nature, we are extremely grateful for all the information received.”

An Essex County Council spokeswoman said: “A number of restrictions have been proposed along Cartersfield Road that are currently being progressed.

 

“The proposed restrictions are ‘no waiting at any time’ double yellow lines.”