NEW pleas have been made to build an outer relief road to improve traffic flow in Southend.

Councillors made the calls during a debate on proposals for a new traffic system at the Cuckoo Corner roundabout on the A127 intended to improve traffic flow.

Ric Morgan (Lib Dem, Prittlewell) said he was concerned about having traffic lights on a roundabout as was proposed by the new scheme.

He said: “In places where I have experienced these, they have frequently been removed meaning the roundabout is left as it was. I am worried the same thing could happen at Cuckoo Corner and it will not be any sort of solution to the traffic problems in the area.

“I think the council has to keep pushing for an outer relief road to the north of the town which would relieve all the pressure on the A127.

“We should continue to press for the £50 million or whatever the cost is going to be.”

But Anna Waite, councillor responsible for transport, said there was no guarantee a relief road would go ahead any time soon.

She said: “The proposed traffic lights are of an entirely different design which has only been tried at three places in the country, where they have proved to be successful.

“We have to face the fact that in the short term we are not going to get an outer relief road, so we have to do the best we can to carry on improving what we have available.

“Certainly, one thing is sure and that is you will not get any sort or relief road for £50million.

“As far as some sort of relief road is concerned, we are still in discussions with Rochford District Council about what can be done.”