THURROCK Council is planning to make major changes to the way traffic can flow on two busy roads in the east of the borough.

It wants to implement a 'no stopping' order on the A1013 Stanford Road from the Orsett Cock roundabout to the junction with the Manorway roundabout.

And to introduce a 40mph speed limit on the whole of Buckingham Hill Road. The current limit is 50mph.

The council has not given any reasons why it want to make these changes.

Currently there is a 'safety' speed limit on the length of the A1013 because of the number of access points on the road to the A13 widening works. When the work is completed, which the council hopes will be by November this year, the A1013 will be running parallel to the new three lane A13.

And Buckingham Hill Road has been the subject of a lot of controversy about lorries going too fast and dumping mud on the road - with congestion on the road exacerbated by traffic queuing to get into Linford Household Top. Recently the council introduced a 'no right turn' rule for traffic

approaching the top from the Stanford Road junction - which has meant vehicles travelling to the tip have had to find places to do U-turns on the narrow and busy road.

It is likely that the burning question about the Buckingham Hill 'slow down' will not be about its validity - but about the enforcement. The council recently implemented speed restrictions in East Tilbury, where residents have frequently complained about the scourge of speeding lorries, but has been damned for a lack of enforcement by either speed cameras or a police presence.

Thurrock Nub News has reported on the criticism of the council by local councillors Fraser Massey and Sue Sammons becasue the rules have been regularly ignored.

Residents have the chance to comment on both applications and any objection to the proposed orders must be made in writing, giving the grounds on which it is made and sent to the following address Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, RM17 6SL or sent via email to [email protected] to arrive on or before 3 June.