Commuters angry over new parking restrictions (From Thurrock Gazette)

Commuters angry over new parking restrictions

1:30pm Friday 16th October 2009

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A COMMUTER has spoke of his anger at the lack of free car parking near Tilbury Town train station.

Roger Pope, 35, of Shaw Crescent, Tilbury, expressed his thoughts after another piece of land that commuters park on is now threatening them with clamping.

Mr Pope commutes to London everyday, he walks to the station. But his wife, Louise, 34, cannot walk due to severe arthritis so she drives everyday.

Mrs Pope has been parking behind Scrutton Maltby Sports and Social Club in Ellenman Road, for the past seven years, on ‘waste ground’ according to Mr Pope.

On Monday, October 12 signs went up saying it was private land and that clamping would be in progess.

Mr Pope, also a representative of Thurrock Rail Users Group, said: “A lot of people have complained to me since Monday.

“There have never been any signs before saying it is private land. I am concerned for my wife and her work. She will get into trouble if she is late.

“People are being forced to drive in and not use public transport. The people coming in from the villages like Aveley and Ockendon cannot get buses that will get there in time for trains.”

When the Gazette called the company responsible for the notices- South East Clamping, based in South Ockendon, they refused to comment.

But they did say that the land belonged to residents and that a resident had got in touch with them complaining about the parking situation.

Residents and businesses surrounding the land have been issued with yellow permits.

Train operator at Tilbury, c2c, said: “Dedicated car parking facilities for rail passengers has traditionally not been provided at Tilbury Town station.

“Because of restricted space and land availability this remains the situation and there are currently no plans for any parking development at the station.”

Mr Pope added that the signs are not even illuminated, so they cannot be seen in the dark.

He said: “If they are going to charge us for parking at the station then there should be discounts for commuters on public transport.

“We pay a lot of money for our train service but this sort of thing is not encouraging people to use public transport.”

Cllr Bukky Okunade for Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, told the Gazette that parking is something that needs to be improved at Tilbury.

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