COUNCILLORS in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham have called on police to upgrade their efforts to catch speeding motorists on a busy estate - or for traffic calming measures to be introduced.

Concern has been expressed for some time about the speed of cars using Branksome Avenue on the Homesteads estate and Thurrock council did put forward a proposed scheme, which it felt would stop the lengthy road being used as a rat-run.

However, the scheme failed to win favour with local people and was ultimately dropped.

A leading campaigner for change is ward councillor Gary Byrne, who has been calling for action for several years.

Yesterday (Monday, 29 July) has welcomed an initiative by Essex Police officers who operated speed cameras on the road, but says more needs to be done.

A statement from Essex Police, who took to social media to how their presence, said: "Officers from Thurrock Community Policing team deployed to Branksome Avenue in response to concerns from residents around speeding in the area.

"Officers utilised speed enforcement equipment to identify vehicles travelling in excess of the 30mph speed limit on this road. In just half an hour, officers stopped 10 vehicles - all of which were traveling over the speed limit, with the highest speed recorded at 42mph."

The police have not said if they issued speeding tickets to the offending drivers, some of whom were stopped.

The statement continued: "Excess speed is frequently the main cause of or a significant factor in collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured.

"Police recorded speed as a contributory factor in 32 per cent of collisions where someone dies or is seriously injured.

"Officers will continue to deploy speed-guns in this area at random times to enforce the speed limit and issue penalty notices where required."

The police have also called on residents to play their part in reporting offenders, adding: "If you have witnessed or have evidence of dangerous driving - please submit footage via "Extra Eyes".

Cllr Byrne says he is grateful for the police response, but wants to see more.

He has also supplied Nub News with a video compilation of drivers who appear to be speeding.

He says: "Please watch in horror a small sample of clips from just one small section of Branksome Avenue Stanford. Residents put up with this daily, it's only a matter of time before a resident is killed on this road. 

"I am told by officers that three deaths must be recorded before action is taken.

"With the evidence from our camera I feel there is reason enough to be proactive and not be reactive after a fatality. 

"It is a topic that is raised at every Corringham, Fobbing and Homesteads forum meeting with residents getting more and more concerned with a road used as the local racetrack."

Thurrock Community Policing Team sergeant Amelia Moore has told Cllr Byrne she is willing to attend a forum meeting, saying: "I am happy to assist with any meetings regarding community concerns and we will listen to what you have to say and what the residents are reporting.

"I want to reiterate that we responded yesterday when we were notified and luckily due to demand, we were able to facilitate a speeding operation on Branksome Avenue where officers stopped a number of vehicles.

"We will continue to do these operations where demand allows and appreciate that evening would be a good opportunity for enforcement and I will feed this back to the team."

Cllr Byrne has been supported by Corringham Town and Stanford East councillor Roy Jones, who is also chair of the forum.

He says: "We do need an urgent meeting regards the speeding issues on Branksome Avenuee, Stanford. I feel we need to be proactive before any injuries are caused by speeding drivers.

"We have the evidence which has been accumulated over many years. This issue has been addressed by the Corringham, Fobbing and Homestead Forum many times. It has been put forwards on the agenda when Forum members met with Council Highways officers.

"This urgent issue requires another meeting to discuss ways and ideas that could be put forward as to try and combat the ever-increasing speeding by vehicles on this road."

In turn Cllr Byrne added: "There is an urgent need to discuss this with council directors and officers and the police. Ward councillors, would like to see everyone on board to arrange a meeting where we can discuss how we make Branksome Avenue resident friendly and resident safe.

"I am fully aware that funding will be the biggest hurdle to overcome, but watch the clips then justify cash over a fatality." 

Related stories:

Recorded crash highlights dangers of speeding.

Councillors celebrate cash for rat run consultation

Lukewarm response to speeding consultation.

Traffic calming cash will go elsewhere as residents' response leads to scrapping of plan