COUNTY council plans to ease a notorious traffic bottleneck in the heart of Rayleigh have been welcomed.

New traffic lights at London Hill are planned because of delays caused by motorists waiting for a gap in the traffic to pull out into Rayleigh High Street.

Changes to the timing of traffic lights in the High Street are also planned as part of the scheme.

Essex County Council says the improvements are needed because motorists regularly suffer severe delays and emergency vehicles have difficulty getting through the congestion as roads become so jammed with cars at rush hour.

Chairman of Rayleigh Chamber of Trade and Commerce and local businessman Carl Watson's reaction was "hallelujah" when he heard the problems were to be tackled.

Mr Watson, owner of Squires coffee shop, said: "The traffic lights cause huge congestion on the hill with traffic stuck as it can't filter out on to the High Street.

"Once they change to green no-one gives way to let people out and so London Hill just stays static. It is a bottleneck when emergency services need to get through.

"So if they are looking at the timing of the lights and altering that it will alleviate some of it. I'm all for it, it will be good to get things flowing better. It can only be better than it is now."

Ruth Lockhart, landlady of the Half Moon pub in the High Street, echoed Mr Watson's concerns about emergency services having difficulty making their way through the jams.

She said: "It's chaos. London Hill junction needs widening as the paving is too big, then that will allow space for ambulances and police to get through.

"I think the plan will ease the traffic. You can sit on the hill for ages trying to get out as people don't stop in rush hour. The timing is not right and it makes the junction diabolical.

"Traffic will still queue on the High Street, but I think it should go back to two-way, it worked better when it was two-way.

"This part of the High Street should be pedestrianised with traffic made to use Crown Hill and London Hill and Websters Way as a circular route. Shop owners would like it and it would encourage more trade."

Terry Cutmore, leader of Rochford District Council, gave a more cautious welcome and said the whole area needed improving.

He said: "I welcome it but need to look at the details. I personally think the problems with the mini roundabout at Eastwood Road and the High Street traffic are the priority.

"If more traffic lights go in it will slow it down. Any phasing of the lights can only slow it, not speed it up.

"The whole area needs looking at as it is totally gridlocked, especially Saturdays and at rush hour.

"I'd like to think that this will go out to consultation as this is the first I have heard of the scheme."

Intelligent signals are planned for A132/A127."