Chaos has erupted in a UK seaside town with shoppers fed-up with the situation. Drivers are clashing over the lack of parking available in the town centre, while there are also concerns about the maintenance of car parks.

A number of "heated arguments" have broken out in Maldon, Essex, over "dangerous" parking in recent times. Motorists in and around the High Street are said to be clashing at all times due to the lack of parking and size of council-owned car parks. However, Maldon District Council said it has recently invested over £165,000 on resurfacing car parks. Meanwhile, the South Essex Parking Partnership added the High Street has the "highest level of enforcement" in Maldon.

As reported by Essex Live, 29-year-old Laura King has seen "aggressive drivers" shouting and screaming at each other. She explained: "Maldon just doesn't have adequate parking. We need more, larger car parks. We are so lucky to have a busy high street which is doing so well, but without parking, it'll soon suffer."

Maldon District Council operates five town centre car parks, including White Horse Lane, High Street East, Butt Lane, Friary Fields and Carmelite Way. However, shoppers and visitors say this is not enough.

Gavin Tindswell said: "I've seen people double-parked, parking on double yellow lines and even parking or driving on the pavements. There are near misses as well. There is chaos at times as it's a busy and well-used high street."

The 49-year-old has demanded traffic officers take the situation "seriously" and "crack down" on the issue. According to the South Essex Parking Partnership, which regulates on-street parking, there are 3212 enforcement visits in 2025/26.

The partnership said officers "regularly enforce" against issues in the high street. It added: "Illegal parking is inconsiderate and can be dangerous. We urge drivers to prioritise safety over convenience."

A council spokesman said: "We are also proud to have received the 'Park Mark' award and 'Park Access' accreditation for our car parks from the British Parking Association (BPA). This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to ensure that our parking facilities are safe, secure, well-maintained and accessible for everyone."