Council drop aspects of rat run safety proposals including 20mph limit, but residents still have concerns

THURROCK Council has dropped plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on a busy borough residential road and to create 'junction entry treatments'.

However, much to the consternation of campaigning residents, it is pressing ahead with its proposal to install 'buildouts with speed humps and priority working' on Branksome Avenue in Corringham.

The decision has been made by portfolio holder for transport and council deputy leader Cllr Alan Benson.

It comes in the wake of a petition submitted to the council by campaigning resident Mavis Lawrence. The 80-year-old walked Branksome and neighbouring streets to raise more than 100 signatures on a petition asking the council to review its proposal for Branksome Avenue, which has featured frequently on Nub News over recent years as the council and residents have tried to counter the menace of speeding vehicles.

Mrs Lawrence says she and a majority of residents around her do not want the 'buildouts', which reduce the road to a single lane, meaning queuing traffic and vehicles sitting with engines running outside homes.

She says she cannot understand why the council will not install street wide speed humps that would slow traffic, without seriously affecting the flow of vehicles, or install speed cameras which she believes would also have an effect of traffic using Branksome as an alternative to the parallel Southend Road – which is now monitored by average speed cameras.

Her petition, which was received by borough mayor and Stanford resident Cllr William Cook, says-

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The council has responded by saying: "Further to previous correspondence regarding your petition submitted in relations to the Branksome Avenue proposal, the portfolio holder has considered the proposal and the objections received including your petition submitted and has reached a decision.

"Following consideration of the objections to the proposal, the objections are partly upheld. In response to the concerns raised during the consultation, the proposed 20mph speed limit and junction entry treatments will not be progressed.

"However, the physical traffic calming measures - buildouts with speed humps and priority working on Branksome Avenue will continue to be implemented to address concerns regarding alarming vehicle speeds and improve road safety within the area.

"On this basis we will move forward to the implementation stage.

"Prior to the commencement of works, a notification letter will be distributed to residents and properties in the immediate vicinity of the works, as well as local ward members and the Local Forum. Advanced warning signs will also be placed on site to inform residents of the works."

Mrs Lawrence has been backed by a number of residents who have made further submissions to the council to review its decision, but she believes the voices of residents are being ignored.

She is also critical of councillors for the Homesteads & Stanford-le-Hope North ward who, she says, have turned a blind eye to residents' requests for engagement.

In particular she was scathing of Cllr Joanne Quirk, a former next door neighbour of hers on the Homesteads estate who she says refused to discuss the petition, residents' concerns and alternative proposals when she called on her.

"We have known each other for years," said Mavis. " We were next-door neighbours and my son still lives in my old house. But she just ignored me and said she wasn't going to discuss it. That just doesn't seem right. Isn't that what she is there for?"

Thurrock Nub News contacted the three councillors, the others being Cllrs Pam McCabe and James Scarsbrook. Only Cllr Quirk responded, saying: "I think people will understand that councillors may not feel it appropriate nor safe to have callers knock unannounced and to expect an instant response regardless of the time of day or night.

"When Mrs Lawrence knocked on my door, I said I don't discuss Thurrock Council business on my doorstep and asked that she reply via email to the relevant department and copy me in, to which I could then respond in a proper and considered way.

"This is a quite reasonable request, however, I am yet to receive any communication from Mrs Lawrence.

"Branksome Avenue has been known as a speeding hot spot. Speeding is still very much an issue. The residents and their families safety must be taken into consideration. Speed restrictions will be implemented."

Nub News editor Neil Speight commented: "That seems a strange response, it's only a few months since prospective councillors and their supporters were spending weeks making unannounced calls on residents' doorsteps asking for opinions and offering help ahead of seeking election. If you are going to stand as a public representative, surely you expect people to bring their concerns to you?

"However, following our contact with Cllr Quirk I understand she has subsequently responded to Mrs Lawrence, which is a welcome move and we hope there are positive outcomes."

Nub News will continue to follow developments on this long-running issue.