- Residents alarmed by cars driving through Chalkwell Park, ignoring “authorised vehicles only” signs.
- Campaigners demand action, warning of risks to children, pets, and damage to park paths.
- Green Party calls for a bollard at Old Leigh Road gate to block unauthorised access.
The Green Party have raised serious safety concerns after several cars were seen driving through Chalkwell Park.
The road that runs from Old Leigh Road to the cricket pavilion is marked “Authorised Vehicles Only,” with signage at the gate. However, certain users appear to be driving through and parking on the grass, rather than using the designated car park. One day, 12 cars were counted at one time within the park either traveling through or parked around the cricket club and cafe.
Green campaigner Kay Mitchell said: “Unauthorised vehicles using Chalkwell Park paths are putting families and pets at risk. These are not isolated incidents and clear evidence has been shared.
“This is a serious and urgent matter. I’m working with Councillor Stuart Allen, who is contacting officers to push for a fast response. Safety for park users must come first. Vehicular access from Old Leigh Road should be limited to essential maintenance only and supervised. I hope the council responds with the urgency this deserves.”
A local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “Parks are meant to be a place to escape traffic, where children and dogs can run free without fear. But now I find myself having to gather up my children when cars appear and sometimes I’m too late, as shown in videos I’ve taken of various incidents.
“This has to stop before someone gets hurt. The cars are also damaging the paths, they weren’t built for this.”
“Thanks to residents for raising this. It’s shocking to see how close cars are coming to children in a space meant to be safe. I’ve reported it to the parks and highways teams, who are now looking into the issue.”
Councillor Stuart Allen
The Green Party is calling for a bollard to be installed at the park gate to prevent unauthorised access, and is urging the council to act quickly before someone is injured.
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