EXTRA parking spaces could be installed near Southend seafront...two years after they were approved.

Southend Council will discuss plans this week to add parking spaces, approved in November 2017, in Lucy Road.

They will be “dual use” and transfer to a taxi rank at night, which was previously decommissioned in 2006.

Deputy council leader Ron Woodley admitted the changes had taken some time but claimed rules and regulations need to be followed, which can take time.

He said: “Some people expect councillors can make a decision and it can be done there and then but it can’t. We have to follow procedure.

“It went through one committee and got approval but unfortunately because it also relates to a taxi rank so it also has to go through a licensing committee, which could have been done straight after the other as they do have regular meetings, but that didn’t happen.

“Now we’ve come into administration, we’ve picked this up and said this is one we need to see out quickly and we are doing that.”

While the taxi rank was decommissioned 13 years ago the road markings were never changed so it continued to be used.

The spaces, if approved will be used for taxis between 10pm and 9am and then become parking spaces.

Seafront traders have called for more parking and Southend Council has responded but the delay has been questioned.

Paul Thompson, who was chairman of the Seafront Traders’ Association when the plans were approved, said: “The taxi rank closed down in 2006, we said put some parking spaces there and it went to the traffic and working party in November 2017 where it was unanimously agreed.

“Now officers have made up some rubbish to say that it needs to go to committee again – it is another delay. They got permission so why does it need to go to another committee?”

Tory group leader Tony Cox said: “They have lost out on out on parking revenue for all that time – it is madness.” The number of spaces is still being discussed.