CAMPAIGNERS are hopeful after Southend Council agreed to explore options to change the layout of Oakwood Avenue and stop the “dangerous rat run”.

The residents living on Oakwood Avenue, in Southend, have carried out an 18-month campaign calling for the speed limit on their road to be cut and access to the A127 closed.

Council officers claimed no changes were needed but a traffic working party agreed to look at options during a meeting on Monday.

Independent Councillor Stephen Aylen said: “People in Oakwood Avenue felt let down by the council and by councillors after they heard about the initial recommendation and may have thought why even bother but hopefully they will now see that we have argued their case and we are going to get something going.

Councillor Aylen explained that there is no guarantee that changes will be made to the road but said they will “go away, look at it sensibly, see what options are available and what can be done, if anything”.

Residents had raised concerns about the road being used as a rat run but council officers claim the number of vehicles using Oakwood Avenue has reduced by 500 cars a day and very few are speeding on the 30mph road.

Mr Aylen criticised the report for failing to mention that there had been six accidents on the road between 2018 and 2019 and campaigner Tony Smee, 70, said the council’s data does not provide an accurate picture.”

He said: “If someone died in an accident on this road I would go to inquest and table everything that has gone on here, every document I have on file. I would say we gave them a chance to do something but they didn’t do it.”

Despite the council agreeing to investigate options, Mr Smee said the issue has gone on for so long he and many other residents have lost hope anything will be done.

“I went to houses at the weekend and ask if they would go to the meeting and they just said what is the point,” he continued.

“This is a chance for the council to do something right. Even if they just tried it, if it was temporary and they blocked off the road to see what happens.

“If it doesn’t work, they can rethink it.”