RESIDENTS claim parking rules being drawn up to stop commuters clogging up roads in Langdon Hills are out of date.

For years residents have had their lives blighted by commuters using their roads as car parks to avoid having to use the expensive Laindon station car park.

However, plans to tackle the problem by introducing no parking and residential zones in various roads have been criticised by a residents’ association.

David Burton-Sampson, the group’s chairman, said a “brief consultation” about the changes was carried out by Essex County Council four years ago, but nothing happened due to a lack of funding.

He said: “It might have worked four years ago, but it will make matters worse. Since that consultation, parking rules have changed so commuters are parking in different areas to where they were.

“They are parking along Valence Way and on the bends, which is extremely dangerous.”

Mr Burton-Sampson, who has lived on the estate for nine years, said the association has now launched a consultation.

He claims the association has contacted the county council’s highways department three times in the last two weeks, but so far no one has got in touch.

An Essex County Council spokeswoman said: “Essex County Council is following up on the results of the commuter review and launched a public consultation on September 7 seeking residents’ views on the proposal to introduce a residents’ parking scheme in Langdon Hills, to help alleviate the parking issues being experienced in the locality.

“The scheme includes an extension of the existing residents’ parking scheme, which is currently in place in part of Valence Way.

“We would like to encourage residents to put their views forward. All comments will be considered before any decision is taken on whether to implement the scheme.”

To have your say, e-mail TRO.Comments@essex.gov.uk or write to Essex Highways, 1 Endeavour Drive, Festival Business Park, Basildon , SS14 3WF by September 29.