Residents have spoken out about their road safety fears after facing increasing cases of gridlock in residential streets surrounding a Basildon school.

Homeowners in both Wickhay and Great Knightleys, which border the St Anne Line Catholic School, have raised concerns about the clogged state of the roads.

Improvements close to the school may have worsened the situation in neighbouring streets.

Despite extensive discussions with Basildon Council, Essex County Council, and the South Essex Parking Partnership, resident Jeff Peak, 49, claims he is yet to see any parking strategy implemented in the area.

Mr Peak has lived in Wickhay for the past 26 years.

He claims the situation in the roads surrounding the school has never been as bad as it has gotten in the past two years.

He said: “It’s so frustrating, because it seems like it can be only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.

“There have been times when the road is so clogged that cars and refuse collection trucks have come within inches of our property.

“Sometimes we do sit in the house and wait for a bang or a crash into the side of the house.”

Last year, two cars crashed into the side of a house in nearby Great Knightleys, causing significant structural damage to the property.

St Anne Line School implemented a new scheme in January called 3PR, which, with the help of a cartoon robot character, aims to encourage both pupils and parents to ensure care, consideration, and caution when travelling to school by car, by rewarding students with tokens.

Headteacher Angela Russell, said: “I can’t believe the improvement we have seen here with parents attitudes to parking - the children are so enthusiastic about 3PR and really encourage their mums and dads to get involved.

“We were seeing some really dangerous driving outside our school, and have had so many occasions where parents and children have had near-misses. It was beginning to seem like a case of not if but when.”

However, nearby residents have claimed that though the scheme has been positive, the problem has simply been offset to neighbouring roads.

Audrey Smith, 81, who lives in Great Knightleys, said: “It’s good that they are trying something new, but as long as there is no more parking provided it will always be a problem.

“I understand that parents just want to park as quickly and conveniently as possible, but it seems like residents are not considered. It does make you worry, especially for the children’s safety.

The South Essex Parking Partnership did not respond to requests for a comment about the problem.