CHURCH Hill in Stanford-le-Hope has been closed and traffic diverted as engineering company cadent seeks to find a gas leak.

The works started this morning (Thursday, 14 May) and 'road closed' signs were posted on London Road.

The suggested diversion is via the Stanford by-pass and Manorway, but Victoria Road has been left open and that is the route currently being used by service buses, including the 101, to minimise a diversion and retain pick-up points in the town and on its approaches.

However, that could change as a statement from Cadent says: "They are currently working to locate a gas escape in the London Road area, at the moment they are estimating it will continue until next Friday (May 22)."

That suggests the actual digging could move to other parts of London Road, and block access to Victoria Road.

It is just 24 hours since Cadent crews cleared their works on the Buckingham Hill and Stanford Road junction, which overran by several days.

However, although the junction has now reverted to the three way temporary lights managed by Thurrock Council as they reopening of the Linford civic tip.

To help ensure traffic can be managed safely when the site reopens, a road closure will be implemented from Monday until Sunday, 14 June between the hours of 7.30am and 5.30pm on Buckingham Hill Road in both directions between the entrance to the site and the A1013 Stanford Road.

The sight of gas engineers working on London Road in Stanford-le-Hope is a familiar one.

For three years from 2016 onwards, the Thurrock Independent newspaper frequently reported on 'The hole that won't go away' and engineers dug and redug the road up in search for leaks.

It was thought the problems would be solved when a new main was put in during 2019.