PARKING changes affecting residents living in 7,400 Colchester homes will be introduced next month.

The overhaul, which affects residents in the town centre, Christchurch, New Town, Lexden and Mile End areas of Colchester, plus Wivenhoe, will see each household entitled to just two permits from September 15.

There is currently no limit, and households with three or more permits are to get time to make new arrangements.

The new restrictions come after a three-week public consultation held by Colchester Council and the North Essex Parking Partnership earlier this year, which saw 1,200 residents take part.

Nick Barlow, councillor responsible for street services, said: “These changes are the biggest Colchester residents have seen to permit parking.

“This is reflected in the large response to our consultation, which helped inform the new arrangements.

“With the parking partnership, we have considered how we can better enable residents and their visitors to park, while also balancing the needs of schools and businesses in some zones.”

The changes can be seen from today at the permits section of the parkingpartnership.org website.

For more, see Friday's Gazette