DECISION day is looming on whether the council will continue with the district's three parking reviews.

Members of Epping Forest District Council's cabinet are due to vote next week on whether to spend an additional £556,000 to provide long called for parking restrictions in Epping, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell.

The reviews, which stretch back to 2004, have already cost the council £922,956. They are designed to help with commuter parking.

Anna Bloomfield, 46, of Stonards Hill, Epping, whose road is blighted with commuters' cars, said: “It's nearly a a million pounds and we still haven't got what we need.

“The plans have still got to be done. If it's going to cost them an extra £500,000 that's what they've got to do, but they could have done it so much better.”

David Windrow, 74, of Ambleside, Epping, who raised the issue of the parking review at the last cabinet meeting said: “As far as I'm concerned and as far as 80 per cent of Ambleside is concerned the sooner it's brought in and we get parking bays the better. We have had enough problems with commuter parking.

“While we sympathise with commuters it is up to the council and Transport for London to find a solution.”

If the parking reviews are implemented, Epping's will come first followed by Buckhurst Hill and then Loughton, prompting some residents to worry if the money will stretch beyond the first stage.

Chairman of Buckhurst Hill Residents Society Tony Oliva said: “I can't believe we've been waiting as long as we have. We started in 2006 and we were promised one in 2008. It's now going to be 2011. The service we've had for the last four of five years has been horrible.

“I'm appalled by the whole thing. We just want the damn thing finished and we don't have any confidence it'll happen even with the recommendation. It's just such a bad example of public administration.”

The decision will be taken at the cabinet meeting on Monday, October 25, at 7pm.