Action on Parking at Thorndon & South Weald Country Parks

County Councillor David Kendall has raised the problems of parking at Thorndon and South Weald Country Parks over the last couple of months and has repeatedly asked Essex County Council (ECC) to take action. At today's ECC Full Council meeting he asked the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Country Parks for an update on what action has been taken to date and was told the following:

• The County Council now has car parking stewards managing the car parks at the weekend to ensure that people are parking safely and maximising the space available.
• The County Council is in discussion with the South Essex Parking Partnership regarding the parking issues arising from people parking in nearby roads and lanes close to the Country parks.
• The installation of 'clearways' and 'red lines; will be considered in these roads and lanes.
• The County Council is looking at the car parking capacity at both country parks to see if it can be increased.

Cllr Kendall said:

"I am pleased to see that following my intervention the County Council now fully appreciates the dangerous parking problems that occur at both country parks particularly at the weekends. The action they are taking is certainly welcomed however, long term I want to see the car parking capacity increased at both parks so that more residents are able to park safely and enjoy all the benefits that our beautiful country parks have to offer".