NEW restrictions to prevent commuter parking on a busy road will be introduced after residents complained the problem was creating a safety hazard.

A one hour ban between 2pm-3pm will be introduced on the stretch of Broadmead Road between Vernon Avenue and Charteris Road in Woodford Green.

The plans were given the green light at a meeting of the council’s area two committee on Tuesday night after a consultation of residents revealed overwhelming support for the scheme.

In September Shirley Budgett, 74, broke her hip, after stumbling off the kerb while trying to direct her husband Rod out of their driveway because he could not see oncoming traffic past the parked cars.

She said: “I am delighted that the council have listened to us over this and I like to think that what happened to me might have helped them make their decision.

“I am a very active person, but it could take me up to a year to recover – I feel like I have been pitchforked into old age, and that’s come as a result of this dangerous commuter parking problem we have here.”

Cliff Cadman, 63, a retired police officer, who lives in Broadmead Road, also welcomed the restrictions but says more action needs to be taken to make the road safer.

Five years ago he stopped to give first aid to a pensioner who subsequently died after being knocked down on Broadmead Road.

He said: “This is good news because it will make it a lot safer for people trying to get out of their driveways.

“But we have had a number of deaths over the years on Broadmead Road.

“The big problem is speed and the best way to address that problem is with cameras.

“Up until recently TfL policy was that there had to be four KSI (Killed or seriously injured) on a road in a three year period before they would consider putting in cameras.

“But that has changed and if local authorities can put up a reasonable case, they will put in cameras.

“It’s about shutting the stable door before the horse has bolted.”

While councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting agreed unanimously to recommend the new parking restrictions, concerns were raised over displacement of the commuter parking problem.

And Cllr Richard Hoskins and Cllr Hugh Cleaver of Church End Ward both asked that officers monitor streets in nearby South Woodford for signs of displacement parking.