MOTORISTS who park their cars outside a church are turning a busy stretch of road into a dangerous slalom, according to local people.

The area outside Holy Trinity Church on Hermon Hill, has no parking restrictions, and cars park half on and half off the narrow road.

Jack Groom, 78, of Trinity Gardens in South Woodford is a regular churchgoer at Holy Trinity, and says getting out of the car park is a dangerous manoeuvre.

He added: “I never attempt to turn right out of the church because the parked cars obstruct your view.

“It’s just too dangerous. We need some sort of restriction there, even if it’s only 9.30 am until 10.30am to stop the commuters.”

With residents only parking in operation in many of the surrounding roads, and 7-7 restrictions currently in place on nearby George Lane, the church has become a magnet for people looking for free parking.

Bill Layzell-Smith, 74, of Southview Drive, believes there is a risk of a serious accident happening if the situation is allowed to continue.

He said: “You only have to drive along that road to see that there are times when it is like slalom, especially during the rush hour.

“I don’t want to see double yellow lines, but some form of restriction needs to be introduced.”

But some motorists say they should be allowed to continue using the road outside the church to park in.

Grandparents Mylvaganam and Saratha Sivagnanasundaram, both 67, regularly park in the space when they visit their daughter and her two children on Hermon Hill.

The couple, from Essex Road in Leyton, say there is nowhere else nearby for them to park.

Mrs Sivagnanasundaram added: “They have already extended the yellow lines outside our daughter’s house.

“We need to be close to the house when we visit, especially when we are looking after the children.”

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: "A speaker at the last Area 2 Committee raised the issue about parking conditions on Hermon Hill and the associated problems with all day parking caused by commuters and the need for parking restrictions between South View Drive and Charnwood.

"It was agreed to look at these issues as part of the South Woodford parking review and the Holy Trinity Church can be included as part of this review. "

Click here to follow the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian on Twitter