INCONSIDERATE parking by medical office workers is making lives a misery for residents.

More than 100 people packed into a meeting to discuss the issue – laying the blame squarely at the feet of clerical staff at the headquarters of NHS north East Essex, in the grounds of Colchester General Hospital.

Residents said Essex County Council should take action, as refuse lorries and other large vehicles sometimes struggle to make it down their roads.

Martin Goss, ward councillor for Mile End, chaired the meeting for people who live on Turner Road, Kingswood Road and Wryneck Close.

Representatives from the hospital, NHS North East Essex and the highways department at the county council were present.

An officer from the highways department told the meeting that following a traffic survey completed in June this year, they were not convinced the roads needed additional parking restrictions.

Mr Goss said: “Residents have been suffering problems for years and to compound this they moved the walk-in centre to the primary care trust building. It’s understandable residents are annoyed with the county council, because it is doing nothing about it.”

David Hewitt, director of estates and facilities at the hospital attended the meeting, and agreed more parking was needed on the site.

He said: “In 2010 we will put an application in to increase car parking.” The extra spaces could be as many as 50 for staff and 100 for visitors.

Kelly Macfarlane, 32, who lives on Wryneck Close, said: “It’s not the nurses, it’s clerical workers.”

Sarah Adamson, 35, also of Wryneck Close, agreed. She said: “The staff from the primary care trust building park right up to the junction, making it dangerous.”

Colchester police are aware of the issue. Sgt Phil Carpenter said: “We are working with the council and the hospital to see if there’s anything we can do to ease the issue. We have also introduced patrols, which will hopefully help put an end to the problem.”

A spokesman for the county council said: “Unfortunately the problem has escalated in recent months due to the opening of a ‘drop in-centre’.

“While we do not have plans to implement parking restrictions, residents experiencing problems are encouraged to contact the council’s highways department.”