Angry residents will hand in a petition demanding council action on street parking this Thursday.

Stanford West residents are concerned that fire engines and ambulances will not be able to access Hardie Road and Bevin Road if parking issues are not resolved.

Conservative councillor Shane Hebb will be backing the calls for change when he delivers the signatures at Thurrock's Full Council meeting.

Hardie Road and Bevin Road residents have been organising themselves over the past year to resolve the problems.

Cllr Shane Hebb said: "To anyone who knows the area like many of us in Stanford, this area is a textbook “bottleneck”."

"At the best of times, this area is a parking nightmare, and residents have all told me horror stories of how they have not been able to park on their own driveways."

"Others have told me about times when people parking inappropriately prevents them leaving the cul-de-sac on time, and therefore they are late for work and appointments”.

"By design, there is only one way in and out of Hardie Road, and people parking on both sides prevent acceptable levels of access. The issues are made worse on school mornings and afternoons, and other events around the area."

“We also have to think how an emergency vehicle would enter Hardie Road if – God forbid – someone was having a heart attack at the far end of the road”.

“The residents are asking Thurrock Council to discuss options which may resolve this matter – for example a scheme of yellow lines in key areas."

"We need the council to work with the residents to make a plan to resolve the matter, before something terrible happens. I am with them all the way in their pursuit of an acceptable fix to the problem”.