AN EMBATTLED community near a picturesque country park has called for help to stop the onslaught of weekend day trippers ruining their environment.
Homes near Thorndon Country Park South, off Brentwood Road, have been caught up in a deluge of "out-of-town" visitors enjoying the recent warm weather.
But residents say the park cannot cope with the number of visitors, resulting in weekends of "traffic chaos" and people urinating on their doorsteps.
Police were called to a gathering earlier this month as cars blocked Brentwood Road , preventing drivers' access to their homes.
Revellers left eight container bins overflowing and the park's single toilet over-used.
"It's got bigger and bigger," began Sean Farrelly, 39, who has lived in the area all his life. "There's always this big explosion that happens whenever the weather is nice.
"You get a week like we've just had and because it happens so rarely it goes bonkers in there.
"I'd have thought if the council want to run this barbecue it should be properly organised.
"On the weekdays and the rest of the year it's fine but last Sunday I counted about 115 cars that couldn't get into the car park.
"They've got to provide some alternative because the toilet in the Pavilion Café is the only facility in that park."
An action plan was drawn up following an emergency meeting between Essex County Council chiefs and police in June 2009.
The authorities agreed police would:
Target visitors who park illegally outside the park, including along the grass verge on Brentwood Road
Issue £80 fines to culprits
Signs would be erected to warn culprits illegal parking could result in prosecution
Consider banning barbecues from the park.
Mr Farrelly's near neighbour, Sharon Watts told the Gazette nothing has been done and now the barbecues must be stopped.
"I was on the phone to the police to ask for help but all I was told to do was to stay in my home.
"The only police there were community support officers who do a good job but all they can really do is concentrate on parking up cars.
"The police should be doing what police are meant to do and bring some order."
"The local people can't use the park on a Sunday but we're the people who pay the council tax – we can't even get into our own park.
"I generally try not to go out on a Sunday but if I did it would be mad trying to get from the A127 to the A128."
Mrs Watts added she did not consider there is the infrastructure at the park to cope with the weight of demand.
"If they want to run this they've got to consider where all the vehicles can park.
"There's only one toilet and it's totally overwhelmed but all the council care about is the money.
They've got to enlarge the car park and put in toilets.
"It appears to me that the council don't want to do anything to help."
Mrs Watts's husband Stephen added that the situation was often "manic" outside the park and agreed the infrastructure of the park cannot match the demand.
"I was walking the other day and a guy in his 50s was urinating in the ditch in front of the house. This is on the side of this main road he's not trying to conceal himself.
"I saw another man who had a bit of tissue in his hand, he saw me and stopped and I walked on. But I looked again and he was behind the bush.
"It's unbelievable; it can't go on like this."
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: "Essex County Council is aware of the current situation regarding Thorndon Country Park South. We are looking at this carefully to investigate what potential measures can be taken to minimise disruption and support local residents."
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Police work with local authorities to ensure residents are able to live, work and play in our county in a safe environment.
"Officers would urge anyone who experiences threatening behaviour, dangerous road conditions or any incidents of antisocial behaviour at Thorndon Country Park to contact police on 101 or 999 if an emergency.
"Matters of illegal parking should be raised with the relevant local authority."
Any residents wishing to discuss their concerns with police should contact Insp Paul Wells at Brentwood police station on 101.
