Takeaway buyers parking illegally in Herne Bay high street could face penalty fines after council officials launched a crackdown on cars blocking the road.

Complaints have been pouring in as queues build up on Friday and Saturday nights as drivers stop on the seafront side to pick up orders.

Now council leaders have told their enforcement officers to tackle the issue, handing out tickets to motorists stopping illegally.

Kash Anwer, owner of Kash-­tech mobiles in the high street, said: “In the evenings, especially from the other side of the Texaco petrol garage, it is very congested.

“The council needs to bring in more restrictions or stricter penalties. It might help because the parking can cause accidents at times. It’s a real issue in the evenings.”

Vehicles can park legally in spaces on the bus station side of the high street, but the seafront side is off limits at all times.

“Sometimes we get ambulances and fire engines coming through and it does cause a bad feeling..." - Hazel Hocking

Hazel Hocking, who works at Dunn’s Bakery, said cars parking illegally made it difficult for the emergency services to pass.

She said: “I see it all the time. I understand lorries have to park there, but I think it’s wrong.

“Sometimes we get ambulances and fire engines coming through and it does cause a bad feeling.”

Susan Thompson, manager of the Pilgrims Hospice charity shop, called the parking a nuisance.

She said: “We are very appreciative of people who come here with a car-load of stuff and unless they could stop adjacent to us, we would miss their donations.

“I do object to people parking to go to the bank and to get take­aways.

“It’s a nuisance, but having said that, because we rely on people coming in with donations, there is nowhere for them to stop.

“I think they should put more traffic wardens on the road.”

City council spokesman Rob Davies says penalty fines will be handed out.

He said: “We have had reports of problems in the high street on Friday and Saturday evenings and our enforcement officers have recently been tasked with tackling it.

“We will issue penalty charge notices where appropriate but are also working with the various premises to ensure they are taking responsibility and asking their customers and delivery drivers not to park up in this way, as this behaviour will be negatively associated with their business.”

The Gazette says...

It’s 6pm and the people of Herne Bay are hungry...and impatient.

The rumbling stomachs of townsfolk coupled with an insatiable desire for saveloy and chips now breeds a selfishness which knows no limits.

We are, of course, talking about the pavement parkers.

Those drivers who feel they have a God-given right to stop where they like, when they like, so they can stuff their faces that little bit quicker.

No, madam, putting your hazard lights on does not excuse the fact you’re blocking half the road while you pick up your pizza.

And I’m afraid not, sir, leaving your six-year-old in the passenger seat does not buy you a free 10-minute slot to grab your chicken bhuna.

What should be a leisurely half-mile drive along the High Street has now descended into a stop-start journey of frustration.

So it’s refreshing to hear the council has decided enough is enough and announced a crackdown on those parking on the wrong side of the road.

Maybe now a £60 fine will have these inconsiderate motorists thinking twice about grabbing their egg fried rice a couple of minutes early.

But hunger pangs can be a devilish distraction, so we wouldn’t count on it.