Residents only parking outside Shoebury post office is putting the business at risk, the owner claims.

Shoebury Post Office was incorporated into Station News in High Street Shoebury last year.

The business relies heavily on passing trade from motorists who can stop for a few minutes in two parking bays outside the shop.

Signs have now been put up marking the bays for residents use only between 10am and 2pm. The decision has infuriated Owner Harish Panchal, who says it is having a devastating impact on the business and could even put the post office at risk.

He said: “It has made things very hard for us. I’ve even had to put staff on short hours because of it. People see the sign as they approach and think they can’t park there at all so they just drive on.

“They say it is to help with parking for the flats going up in the old Hinguar School. We lobbied councillors against this but they still did it.

“Since the post office moved from George Street to the High street we have been asking the council and the all the councillors for extra short stay parking same as the Garrison end of High Steet, but instead they have erected a large sign post for resident permit parking, which has confusing and also contradicting as the sign in front of the post office says short stay 20 minutes. Customers are not stopping as fear of getting parking ticket.”

A council spokesman said: “A permit zone is being introduced in the area at the request of local residents and the completion of a resident survey to ascertain clear support for such a zone.

“The regulations relating to these controls require the signage is placed within a prescribed distance of the point the area begins, so we are limited as to positioning. However, we note the concerns raised and are currently investigating whether the sign can be moved a very small distance away.”