I read with interest your article regarding the new Colchester Waitrose and staff parking.

It is not just the residents of St Andrew’s Avenue and St Andrew’s Gardens who are affected by the opening of this supermarket and where the staff are parking.

My parents live at the bottom of Cowdray Avenue, a short distance from the store. My father is very angry at where cars are left.

Last week, he had huge difficulty getting his car off his drive, as a car was parked over his drop kerb and obscuring some of the drive. When friends or family visit him, it is very difficult for us to park.

Surely, we should be able to park outside our parents’ house and not have to walk a huge distance with toddlers and babies and all that goes with them in tow!

It worries my dad hugely and that worries me.

He isn’t the only resident to be angered by this. He has an elderly neighbour who drives an invalid car.

It is difficult for him to work his way around the cars, and he can’t see anything as the cars obscure his view. His wife is very concerned for him.

This is really dangerous as he can’t see to cross the road safely. In fact, when my mother goes to town she is the same.

Cars roar up to the garage at the end of Cowdray Avenue and, with all the cars parked, it really is very unsafe and an accident waiting to happen.

Waitrose is trying to be environmentally friendly, but it isn’t happening, is it, if staff merely park where there cars can’t be seen?

One of the people who parks at my parents’ house is in a suit, so I imagine he is a manager at the store.

The line of traffic starts at the end of the road and goes right up to the junction and beyond. It obscures the view for motorists coming in to the avenue.

It is nice that new businesses come in to the town and I am glad they had a brilliant week of trading, but it isn’t fair if residents’ lives are made a misery because of it.

Amanda Hall
London Road
Stanway