PLANS have been unveiled to spend £100,000 installing traffic lights at a dangerous crossing that causes traffic gridlock.

The current zebra crossing outside the Hoy and Helmet pub, in High Street, Benfleet, is considered dangerous for the many commuters who use it to get to and from Benfleet train station every day.

This is because drivers approaching from Canvey cannot see the crossing until the last moment, because of a bend in the road.

Essex Council is drawing up plans to spend £100,000 adding button controlled traffic lights, which it is hoped will ensure drivers stop whenever people cross.

Alf Partridge, chairman of Castle Point Council’s highways panel, believes the safety improvements are badly needed.

He said: “You’ve got cars approaching who are unsighted and people rushing to and from Benfleet train station, so it’s definitely not a situation that we are happy with.

“Fortunately there haven’t been any serious accidents there so far, but we have had a number of near misses.”

The High Street is also one of only two roads leading off Canvey Island and there have been complaints pedestrians using the crossing cause traffic gridlock.

Mr Partridge said: “It causes really lengthy traffic jams because cars’ drivers have to wait for one person to finish crossing and then another steps into their place.

“You would not have that problem at all with a signalled junction, as everyone would cross at the same time.”