CRESSING PARISH COUNCILHighways
This is a copy of the report in the February Community Magazine concerning interaction with Essex Highways Highways update presented to CPC 10th January 2024
A further update has been received from Essex Highways via our District Councillors as follows:
Dear Cllr Abbott
Thank you for your communication dated 8 January 2024, the importance of this matter is of course recognised and has been raised with our highway colleagues for their consideration and appropriate deemed action.
We would like to assure you that Essex County Council (ECC) fully acknowledges that roadworks can be frustrating for residents in the local area. As the Highway Authority, we need to maintain the fine balance between minimising disruption to the road network and facilitating the delivery of development and utility company work/improvements. It should be noted that the public do not see the numerous works for which we receive applications which are refused or postponed. We do everything possible to only allow essential works to be undertaken. These are then carefully coordinated to minimise disruption as far as is practicable.
The road closure is in place to construct a compact roundabout on Long Green, Braintree to provide access to the Persimmon Homes Development for residential development of up to 250 dwellings and the time frame of around 8-9 weeks is standard practice for a project of this nature. The construction duration for the roundabout is based on the construction programme and estimated works involved in the construction. Please refer to the attached diversion plan for the road closure.
This road closure is 24hr/7 days a week due to the nature of the work and to protect the workforce and road users. The contractors confirm that the letters to the residents went out on the 2 January 2024, which provided a 2 weeks standard notice period. We actively try to keep disruption to a minimum and the permit team are keeping an eye on Cressing to ensure that any planned works for the area are not to take place at the same time Long Green is closed.
For information about these and other works in your area please visit https://one.network/public.
We understand the frustrations of the amount of permits in place in Cressing since June last year, we can advise that UKPN found a bomb in the area and this was the main reason for the closure being in place for so long. This was under an immediate permit and inspectors were regularly attending site to make sure works were going to plan. Immediate permits also came in for the surrounding area which have to take place and again, inspectors attend site to make sure all going to plan and utilities complete works as soon as possible.
Following discussions with our Permit steam we can advise that the B1018 to Galleys corner is the official diversion route for the closure on Long Green and deemed the shortest/most suitable route. Diversion routes have to be kept to the same category road (or higher) for the road that is being closed. Weight restrictions, bridges, narrow roads all have to be taken into account and these routes are checked thoroughly by the TTRO team.
The A120 is owned by National Highways and the closures are sometimes not plotted months in advance, we are notified as to when they want to close but sometimes this is done with short notice.
The roadworks proposed for the Cressing Road (Wyevale) roundabout on the B1018 on 1-3 February 2024 will include a lane closure proposed from 20:00-05:00 and a diversion route is not needed with a permit for essential works to undertake carriageway patching.
The permit team ensure to thoroughly check the areas and any clashes are pushed back for works to be undertaken when the network is clear. They also ask for works to be completed at night if possible so that busy routes do not have any excess traffic to contend with.
They will continue to thoroughly check for any clashes in Cressing as they are aware of how busy it gets.
We thank you and your constituents for your patience and cooperation while we carry out these improvements.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and drawing my attention to this matter, we trust that you are reassured that this is being taken seriously.
