PARKING permits could come into force on Brightlingsea streets, after a campaign by residents.

Brightlingsea Town Council said it would consider an appeal from householders in Oyster Tank Road and Fieldgate Dock for a residents-only parking scheme.

Town councillor Janet Aldridge told a meeting at the parish hall she had received fresh complaints about the number of cars parked in both roads.

She said: “There have been problems down there for some time.

“It’s getting quite bad for some of them.

“Sometimes they can’t even access their own drives.”

She blamed the summer parking charges at the council’s car park in Oyster Tank Road, plus a rise in demand for spaces from new homes and sailing club functions.

She added: “This seems to be the only way of curing their problem, unless we make the car park free of charge.

“By putting fees on that car park, we have created a problem.

“The sailing club aren’t going to pay to use the car park when there are places free on the road.”

She proposed a residents-only parking scheme at weekends and evenings for six months, covering the summer season.

But others said the proposals needed more thought.

Alan Goggin, Brightlingsea town and district councillor, said: “It is a problem, but residents’ parking doesn’t always work.

“I agree it is a unique area, but is it any more unique than New Street and Tower Street?

“If we agree for parking permits for there, will we then have to do the same for the next group of people who want it.

“If the problem is seasonal down there, we should identify it.

“If it is certain days or certain functions, we should target the problem rather than a solution which may not work.”