A PAVEMENT 'improvement' scheme in Tilbury has been slammed by a councillor and damned by a number of residents who believe that it is putting both residents and businesses at risk.

Just a couple of weeks after such a raid took place, fears that removing barriers to vehicles might lead to ram raids and the like, the council have said security of businesses is not its job, with a manager saying: "It is not the authority's place to spend public money on protecting private businesses."

Thurrock Council contractors have removed street furniture from Calcutta Road in the town, including safety fencing that kept pedestrians from the road – and also stopped cars and lorries parking on the pavement.

The scheme has been lauded by a spokesperson for the council's transport and development department but it has left local ward councillor John Allen 'gobsmacked'.

Cllr Allen was contacted by a number of residents about the changes, including one who described the work being carried out as shoddy and unsafe.

The councillor referred the issue to the council, adding his own comments that he believed it was an error to remove the fencing – quoting the recent ram raid attack on a shop as a significant example of risk to businesses – and saying: "The message that Tilbury people's safety is at risk here and we want those barriers reinstated."

However, he met with a negative response from the council and has given the full response he received to Thurrock Nub News, asking us to publish and saying: "Please tell me that I'm not being unreasonable for thinking that these people don't live on the same planet and breathe the same air us Tilbs breathe!"

The statement to Cllr Allen reads: "I can confirm that as part of the scheme the opportunity has been taken to declutter the highway in Tilbury and the guardrailing is not being reinstated.

"The footways are now much wider than they were previously and the chances of pedestrians stepping in the road to pass each other or to walk directly into the road have been greatly reduced.

"The scheme has been through a safety audit by a specialist safety audit team external to this authority and no issues have been raised concerning pedestrian safety and the removal of any guardrailng.

"A further safety audit will be undertaken on the site again once the works are complete. This road along with all roads in the borough will of course continue to be monitored for road safety.

"In order to consider the introduction of guardrailing in the future there would need to be clear evidence that there is a pedestrian safety issue in the area that this would resolve.

"The unnecessary introduction of any street furniture leads to an oppressive street scene and adds to the council's maintenance liability.

"With regards to the comments over cars parking on the footway, there are "at any time" waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) covering the area currently and will be following the completion of the works.

"Waiting restrictions apply from the centre of the carriageway to the highway boundary at the back of the footway, therefore any vehicle parking on the footway in this area is subject to enforcement action by the parking team against the offence they are committing.

"Similarly any motorised vehicle (the resident refers to scooters/bikes) riding on the cycleway/footway are committing an offence. In this case it is a moving vehicle offence that is enforceable by the police.

"However, this is not an action which would be prevented with guardrail as the locations it would be placed are away from the lowered kerbs of the crossing points where bikes/scooters would access the footway.

"I understand your comment regarding the recent ram-raid on a shop in the area, however I would point out that it is not the authority's place to spend public money on protecting private businesses. There is an area of private forecourt between the highway boundary and the shop fronts where the shop keepers are able to install their own protective bollards if they wished.

"I am very concerned to receive an allegation of shoddy workmanship on this project. The new works have been closely monitored throughout and I can reassure you that they have been carried out to a very high standard.

"I am unclear where the resident feels the quality is poor, but if you can please advise of the specific locations I will inspect the area to understand their particular concerns better and rectify any defects."

Cllr Allen summed up the response by producing photographs of a large lorry parking on the pavement in the town, saying it showed how fair removed from reality some council officers are!

He added: "I'm completely and utterly gobsmacked! I hope our small voices to come together on this to make a big voice to give those 'idiots' (yes 'idiots' Is absolutely an appropriate word) the message that Tilbury people's safety is at risk here and we want those barriers reinstated.

"Frankly I don't care how much they cost! Because you can't put a price on people's safety!"

Cllr Allen, who can be contacted on [email protected], is asking residents to send him their views on the new street scene, adding: "Please send and flood me your email complaints. Please always include your name address and contact number in all email communications."