8:00am Tuesday 30th June 2009
By Sarah Calkin
UNHAPPY residents want council chiefs to make U-turn on controversial plans for a new bus lane on the A13.
The proposal is part of the £6million scheme which aims to cut congestion on the busy stretch of road between Sadlers Farm roundabout and Southend.
Cabinet member for transport, Norman Hume, will make the decision in July, despite a 500-strong petition lodged with the county council and House of Commons against the lane, planned between Park Chase, Hadleigh, and Tattersall Gardens, Leigh.
If it goes ahead 3m of a 12m grass verge will be lost, along with many mature trees.
Gwen Hall, 53, of Church Road, Hadleigh, who started the petition, said: “There is a really strong feeling in the area that people don’t want this to happen. They don’t see the point of it. I’m praying we are listened to and the right thing will be done.”
The proposals also include scrapping the mini roundabouts at Tarpots, replacing them with traffic lights and banning right hand turns from the London-bound A13 into Rushbottom Lane.
Carol Bigault, 68, of Woodside Road, Hadleigh, is also strongly opposed to the plans and wrote to the leader of Essex County Council, Lord Hanningfield, about her concerns.
She said: “The view looks out over the Salvation Army land then further on, over the Thames and on to the Kent coast.
“It’s breathtaking.
“I am astonished this idea even got off the drawing board because of the importance of this unique view. The mature trees are a sight to behold and in the springtime the daffodils are worthy of Wordsworth’s poetry.”
County council spokesman James Henderson said: "Public consultation tookplace through exhibitions in February.
"Although every effort will be made to facilitate a decision in July we feel it's important to take the time necessary to review and consider all the responses received through the consultation process and address those issues."
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