DRIVERS in Stanford-le-Hope have removed bollards and are driving through a road closure that appears to have sparked a row between Thurrock Council and UK Power Networks.

London Road in the town was closed yesterday (Tuesday, 13 April) morning by the power company, whose workers told Thurrock Nub News they were responding to a request from Thurrock Council to fix street lights on the approach to the town's rail station.

They used their emergency powers to close the whole road - which remained closed after 3pm yesterday, even though the power workers had left the scene.

The actual works do not impinge on the highway, it is just a pavement area that has been dug up but the whole road in both directions was closed.

Today, while no work appears to have been done on site, the road remains closed with signage and bollards in place - though some of them have been removed - allowing vehicles to access and pass the works without taking the signposted diversion.

A statement from Thurrock Council - whose highways officer was seen at the site remonstrating with power workers yesterday - issued this morning, appears to say they do not support the road closure.

It reads: "UKPN took the decision to do these works under emergency processes given to them by the New Roads and Street Works Act, which allows works to be done as an emergency without the planning in place beforehand and without notifying the council.

"Thurrock Council, as the highway authority challenges instances when utility companies invoke their emergency powers but does not have the power to prevent works from taking place."

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