A RAFT of parking restrictions are set to go ahead across Southend except in two roads where objectors outnumbered supporters.

Residents living in and around Thorpe Bay Gardens in Thorpe Bay have rejected plans to extend parking restrictions to prevent day trippers parking there.

Some residents had tried to invoke a covenant requiring the council to prevent parking on the seafront road but the majority of those responding to a consultation have vetoed the move.

Six out of eight people living in Crosby Road, Westcliff who responded also objected to new waiting restrictions.

The council received 60 responses to the consultation for Thorpe Bay Gardens.

Of these 17 were not counted as they had no addresses and one other was not valid. Of the remaining responses, 29, or 67 per cent, objected to the proposal on the basis the measures were “unnecessary and would result in parking being displaced into adjacent residential streets.”

Just 13 from households in Thorpe Bay Gardens supported the proposals on the assumption it will prevent alleged anti-social behaviour in the evenings.

The majority of the proposed restrictions designed to increase safety at junctions throughout the borough were not opposed during the consultation. Some, where concerns were raised, will undergo further appraisal.

Officers are recommending councillors on the Traffic Regulation Working Party and Cabinet Committee vote not to go ahead with the Crosby Road and Thorpe Bay Gardens schemes because of the overwhelming opposition.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council has warned in the past about the dangers of the council ignoring covenants, which he says could put other protected land in jeopardy.

He said: “My views on covenants are clear. Before this we had letters from 27 out of 29 people living in Thorpe Bay Gardens wanting the restrictions extended.

"Then a letter was put out to a load of residents to try and get more objections from people that were not close to that area. I think it has been a bit vexatious.

“It will be up to the committee which way this goes. Ward councillors will come to speak to the committee. We have got to listen to the ward councillors.”

Current restrictions in Thorpe Bay Gardens mean single yellow lines ban parking between 9am and 6pm between March and October.

Instead, the cabinet proposed limiting parking all year round on the north side of the road which would have upheld the 60-year-old covenant.

Councillors will discuss it on Monday.