COMMUTERS are calling for more parking spaces to be provided at a popular train station as they are fed up of being left without a space.

Drivers wishing to use the car park at Marks Tey station say they are having to park on grass verges.

Ross Boulding said he received a £75 fine from NCP, which runs the car park.

He said: “I accept that I parked on the grass verge but there are not enough spaces for people to park at the station clearly, hence why people park on the grass verge.

“Last week there was yet again no spaces.I saw the inspector and said where can I park?

“He said park on the grass verge.

“This does need addressing, no doubt I will have to pay the £75 and, of course, I will.”

Mark Kraft, contracts manager at NCP, said the company tried to maximise the amount of space at car parks but it is particularly difficult at rail stations.

He said: “You must have motor work access points so if there is an emergency on the track they need to be able to get vehicles in to access the tracks.

“Unfortunately in this instance the car park was full on that day.”

He said there are some works planned at Marks Tey but it was too early to say for certain.

He added: “There are 228 spaces at Marks Tey, and it’s a very popular car park because of its location.”

He said it was more popular than the car park at Colchester, which has 1,351 spaces.

He said: “It’s always upsetting for customers when they do get a parking charge notice, but you can only expand to as big a size as you can.”

Allan Walker, who is the chairman of Marks Tey Parish Council, said frustrated commuters are causing problems by parking elsewhere in the roads.

He said the situation is aggravated by the lack of space at the station.

He said: “The parking by the station is a major headache.

“We get a lot of people parking down the High Street in Copford and on estates in Marks Tey.

“It’s really difficult to do something about. We have said there is nothing in the Local Plan that sets that out as an issue.

“It’s a prevalent issue for the long term, and it’s difficult to see how you can find a short term answer.”