LOUGHTON: Pensioners 'prisoners in their own homes'

Residents of Torrington Drive in Loughton claim that carers and paramedics have no way of quickly accessing the block’s vulnerable pensioners and are forced to park nearby and race to the block on foot.

The council has told residents nothing will be done until the long deferred parking review next year, but they are preparing to petition the council to act sooner.

Since last parking review five years ago the problem has become so bad that residents have been unable to take their vehicles out in the morning for fear that their spaces will be taken on their return and an ambulance recently had to park in the middle of the road while medics treated a pensioner.

Barry Johnstone, 63, has lived on the street for five years and is preparing a petition from residents for the council to reserve spaces for them.

He said: "Residents feel like prisoners in their own homes. They have to be given some priority."

“What do we have to do? We have been told that there is not enough money to take any action now and it will have to wait until the parking review next year.

“I am a former fireman and can see the difficulties emergency vehicles have accessing the area.

“If we have to go out shopping first thing we have no chance of getting back in. My daughter has to pay and park right round the corner when she comes to see me. Residents are just being pushed out.

“It has become dangerous. An ambulance had to park in the middle of the road. Carers have nowhere to park and have to walk ages to come to and see people.

Resident Jenny Figgins, 62, said: “The grass verge opposite the block is often completely churned up by vehicles. It is just such a mess. There are huge welts in the ground.

“It has to be commuters as all of the spaces on the verge are taken before 7 in the morning.

“There is a street on the other side of Debden that has the same problem and the council have put up a fence blocking off the grassy area. Why can’t they do the same thing here?”