WORK has now been completed on removing the controversial speed bumps around East Tilbury's rail crossing.

The bumps were installed earlier this year as part of Thurrock Council's efforts to improve protection for pedestrians and cyclists in the area as part of its Covid safety programme – for which it received a grant from the government.

The measures were widely mocked and a couple of weeks ago it was announced they would be removed in East Tilbury and the associated 20mph speed limit would also be lifted.

That caused further comment about the legitimacy of the council's strategy and the lack of consultation in planning it with people who were most directly affected. Ward councillors in East Tilbury, for example, have been against the introduction of the speed bumps in the way they were implemented right from first news of the project but say their suggestions for better use of the government's cash were ignored.

The speed bumps were initially installed – and then removed – by local civil engineering firm Henderson and Taylor, who have been criticised for the quality of their work in several parts of the borough.

However, they appear to be meeting the council's standards. In April the authority signed a new contract for £30 million worth of new capital works to be carried out by the company – on the back of a previous £40 million contract that still has more than a year to run. And that has been topped up with two contracts worth £250,000 and £400,000 for works on the A13.

Thurrock Council's attempts to mitigate Covid through traffic calming and other pedestrian safety enhancements including painting warnings on pavements have been widely criticised since they were introduced in July last year.