Deliveroo drivers are to be banned from Brentwood high street – as the council starts a scheme that may be rolled out nationwide to stop roads across the UK being turned into “big drive-thrus”.

It means that while the food-delivery app drivers will not be allowed to park in the high street while they wait for orders they will be able to use off street parking in Chatham Way and William Hunter Way car parks for 15 minutes free while they pick up orders.

Brentwood Borough Council leader Cllr Chris Hossack has admitted that the town has a problem with people illegally parking on pavements along the high street but hoped the agreement with Deliveroo will address part of it.

READ MORE: Brentwood parking charge increases could raise £900,000

He said: “One of the biggest culprits of pavement parking is Deliveroo-type drivers.

“There is no denying that most high streets across the UK have kind of turned into big drive-thrus – whether they be for pizzas or Chinese takeaways.

“We are pioneering a system with Deliveroo – they haven’t done it with any other council yet – they are even sharing what we are doing in Brentwood with city councils like Cardiff and Edinburgh.”

READ MORE: Kebab chain eyes spot on ‘depressed’ Brentwood High Street

The council’s discussions with Deliveroo to talk about options for their delivery drivers come as Brentwood High Street saw more parking fines than any other in Essex in the 12 months leading up to June this year.

Brentwood High Street saw 3,333 parking charge notices (PCNs) issued to drivers between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, according to a Freedom of Information request by the LDRS.

The data from the North and South Essex Parking Partnerships also revealed £3,812,438.48 was raised from PCNs across Essex during the time period, with £80,571 raised from fines in Brentwood High Street alone.

The council has introduced planters to try and prevent cars being able to park at certain points in the High Street but still some drivers flout the law – with one car parked last week with all four wheels on the pavement.

Cllr Hossack added: “We had a whole team down from head office in London last week – we engaged with all their riders.

“What we have basically said to Deliveroo is no-one from Deliveroo can park in the high street – they are banned. But in order to help them we have allocated off street parking bays in Chatham Way and William Hunter Way where they can pull up and get 15 minutes grace.

“We are trying to make it really easy for them to change their parking behaviour and Deliveroo are right behind it.

“And if that works, and I’m hoping it will have a positive impact, they want to take away what we are doing in Brentwood to fix this problem and share it with other town centres across the country that are also suffering the same problem.”

To get the latest news and features direct to your inbox, sign up for our Romford Recorder newsletter here.