Manor Street in Braintree was once a popular parking spot for those wishing to visit the town centre, with parking spaces typically free outside the museum.

However, residents have complained about receiving fines for parking in the spaces despite there being “no signs or yellow lines”.

John Hopkins, from Sible Hedingham, was visiting the site for health reasons when he got penalised.

He said: “My wife had an appointment at the new NHS clinic.

“She had to go and see a diabetic nurse and has recently gone on to insulin.

“We have a blue badge anyway and saw no signs so parked opposite and nipped across. About 45 minutes later a ticket was on the car.

“There were no yellow lines on the road, no lines on the kerb, no sign on the pole and no 'no waiting' bollards.

“How was I or other motorists expected to know that there are restrictions there?

“I have appealed the decision.”

Bob Smith from Braintree is also not happy.

He added: “I have been in Braintree for years and these spaces have always been there.

“There were very few signs in place, so people were parking there and getting tickets from the traffic warden.

“I appealed mine and got my money back and would urge others to do the same.

“After deliberations, more signs have been put up, so no people are parking there now.

“I just don’t understand why they would take those car parking spaces away.

“They were very handy for people who are shopping and can’t move or walk very well, but now it is all restricted.

“We have only got George Yard and Sainsbury’s parking now, and it is no advantage to anybody.

“Those who may want to get into the town centre or go to banks have lost this parking area.

“Cafés and other businesses in the town centre nearby may lose trade because of these restrictions."

Statement from the North Essex Parking Partnership

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP), which is responsible for administering and enforcing both on-street and off-street based parking across the Braintree district, has responded to the concerns.

A spokesman said: “Manor Street is located in a restricted parking zone where no waiting or loading is allowed except in marked parking bays.

"The traffic regulation order (TRO) for this was made in 2021 by Essex County Council.

“The TRO prohibits parking in the area on the north side of Manor Street where the parking bays were previously located.

"However, due to a contractor error, the parking bays were not removed at the time the traffic regulation order was introduced.

“NEPP has now removed the erroneously marked parking bays after discussing the matter with the relevant authorities.

"The removal of the bays was to allow buses to access the bus station from the west side, as more new services will be using this route.

“There are large zone entry signs at the entrances to the restricted parking zone that advise motorists that there is a no waiting/no loading restriction in all areas within the zone except in the marked parking bays.

"Yellow lines are not permitted within restricted parking zones, and as the parking bays had been removed, motorists should not have been parking in that area.

“However, additional repeater signs have now been added across the whole parking zone to further advise motorists of the restriction, although there is no legal requirement for these.

“If any motorist believes they have been issued a parking ticket incorrectly, they can appeal it by providing all available evidence to us and the case will be reviewed.”