WORK is continuing to repair St Clements Way in West Thurrock following damage caused by eco-campaigners who occupied a tunnel they had dug inder the industrial site access road during a near two week protest.

Thurrock Council says its highways team is working to complete the repairs as quickly as possible in a bid to get the road fully reopen but it will not be before Friday, 9 September. A contraflow is currently in place.

A statement issued this morning (Tuesday, 6 September), on the day protesters are due in court, said: "Highways teams are working to repair damage caused by protestors who had tunnelled under St Clements Way, West Thurrock, to allow the road to fully re-open to traffic as quickly as possible. In the meantime, St Clements Way is accessible to traffic with a contraflow system and temporary traffic lights in place.

"The extensive damage that has been done under the road means it cannot be fully opened until repairs have taken place on Friday 9 September."

Cllr Ben Maney, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "There has been considerable damage done to the road and costly repairs are required before it can be fully re-opened. The road is currently accessible however a contraflow system will be required until those extensive repairs can take place on Friday.

"Essex Police has now handed responsibility for the road back to Thurrock Council and our highways team immediately got to work on Monday, 5 September to ensure the road can re-open to all vehicles as quickly as possible.

"This hopefully brings an end to the disruption caused by these fuel protestors targeting roads in Thurrock over the last fortnight."

As well as the contraflow, traffic can also use alternative routes to avoid St Clements Way until works are complete.