STUDENTS and teachers using a car park for free could be hit with fines in a clampdown on “inappropriate” parking.

Rochford Council claims staff and sixth form pupils at Fitzwimarc School, as well as commuters, are filling the Fairview Park car park, in Victoria Road, Rayleigh and leaving it “inaccessible” to residents using the park.

The 80-space car park is free but designed only to be used by people visiting the park and using its facilities.

In a bid to keep free parking for park users, councillors have voted in favour of introducing a three to four hour time limit and anyone fining anyone exceeding the limit.

Rochford Lib Dem councillor, Mike Sutton, has emphasised the council is not trying to be “cruel” and “exploitative” in its approach but must take action.

He said: “We are opening the avenues we need to have conversations with the schools, and we want to encourage fair and responsible parking, we aren’t saying it is just the students, there are commuters, and we want to assess who is using it.

“That site has degraded, and it will cost a lot to maintain, people will be using it for seasonal parking, and this is a fair funding or maintenance price we are exploring.

“We realise how long it could take in case we want to follow up this parking order.”

Mr Sutton added that since the crumbling concrete Raac crisis, the sixth form at Fitzwimarc had expanded and removed any parking facilities for students and staff.

He said: “We are exploring options and saying that if people use it, there needs to be a contribution and for long-term parking solutions, it has been made inaccessible for park users.

“It sounds cruel, but we need to get the balance right and we are not trying to be exploitative, it is a maintenance costing. We are looking to do a considered price for the people we believe might be using it.”

At a meeting on Thursday night, councillors voted unanimously in favour of moving towards enforcement.

Fitzwimarc School has been contacted for comment by the Echo.