New restrictions came into force last week but drivers have continued to flout the rules.
Nine Essex lorry drivers have been slapped with fines for parking in a road which is causing huge damage to the surface. It’s been a week since Thurrock Council introduced new restrictions in Tilbury but drivers are continuing to flout them.
The council said lorry drivers have been using Fort Road and the Tilbury Riverside car park as an “unofficial rest stop” which is also preventing people from accessing the road and car park. Following numerous complaints, last week the council introduced new restrictions preventing lorries from parking there.
But despite this, in the first week following the restrictions, enforcement officers have issued nine penalty charge notices to drivers ignoring the rules. Ben Maney, councillor responsible for highways, said: “Heavy Good vehicles were using this approach road and car park as an unofficial rest stop.
“This is as well as creating access issues were causing damage to the road and car park surface, which was not designed to take vehicles over 7.5 tonnes We introduced new rules and are enforcing them to prevent this ongoing damage, which is ultimately something Thurrock Council taxpayers have to foot the bill for.
“There are several places where drivers can legitimately rest in and around Tilbury, so there is no need for anyone to use this road and car park. Enforcement action like that we have seen in the last week will make sure that the road and public car park are kept clear of lorries and does not suffer further damage.”
In the first six days of the introduction of the new rules preventing heavy goods vehicle waiting in Fort Road and the car park enforcement officers have carried out 13 patrols and issued nine charges to drivers who flouted the rules. Thurrock Council said additional patrols will continue to focus on this road and car park to ensure the no waiting prohibition is obeyed.
