ACTION is to be taken to sort out a parking headache which is it claimed could cause danger to people using a pelican crossing on Felixstowe seafront.The problems have arisen following a facelift for the busy Pier Bight car park outside the resort's leisure centre.

ACTION is to be taken to sort out a parking headache which is it claimed could cause danger to people using a pelican crossing on Felixstowe seafront.

The problems have arisen following a facelift for the busy Pier Bight car park outside the resort's leisure centre.

But the reorganisation of the parking spaces has left it possible for cars to now park in Undercliff Road West alongside the car park leading up to the pelican crossing - narrowing the road, causing congestion at times, and making it difficult to see people waiting to cross.

Two cars cannot now pass on the stretch, sometimes leading to tailbacks.

A meeting is now to take place between county council highways officers, Suffolk Coastal and Felixstowe Town Council to discuss the problem and find a solution.

Highways officials say the motorists parking along the area are not breaking any laws.

Martin Gardiner, engineering officer with Suffolk Coastal Services, said he believed there had been yellow lines preventing parking and that these had been removed or worn away.

He said the parking, opposite the parade of shops, was blocking access to the council's car park.

“I am concerned about this, not only because vehicles are parking and blocking access to and from the council's off-street parking bays, but because they also severely restrict visibility for vehicles exiting the car park and for pedestrians using the crossing,” he said.

But senior engineer at the county council, Angela Rapley said there had never been any parking restrictions along the stretch - and had there been a yellow line it was not legally enforceable.

The situation would be looked at as part of the upcoming seafront parking review.

She accepted the parking was blocking access to the parking bays and obstructing visibility, but there were also other issues to consider.

“The proposed increase in car parking charges will increase the demand for on-road parking and therefore there may be the need to utilise more on-road parking in the area,” she said.

Is the car parking alongside the Pier Bight car park dangerous? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk