As part of his long-running campaign to reduce congestion in Harlow, Bill Rammell MP this week urged Essex County Council to address and respond to local concerns about ongoing roadworks on the A414 near M11 junction 7.

In 2008 the Government awarded highways authority Essex County Council £10 million for projects including the widening of the A414 to reduce congestion in the longer term. However, following a large number of complaints, Mr Rammell has become increasingly concerned that Essex County Council’s handling and management of the roadworks had made the situation unbearable for motorists in the short term.

Bill Rammell MP this week spoke to Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Councillor Norman Hume and raised a series of concerns about the roadworks, following his urgent written representations to Councillor Hume on the issue.

Mr Rammell has received reports from constituents about huge tailbacks along the A414 leading into the Southern Way roundabout where new traffic lights have been installed. Some reports from people have detailed that journeys along this stretch are taking an unacceptable length of time, making it almost impossible to travel at peak times. Serious concerns have also been raised about the impact of extra traffic diverting into the Potter Street area.

Mr Rammell this week pressed for and received a number of early reassurances from Councillor Hume, who confirmed that ECC will:

-          Retime the traffic signals at the Southern Way roundabout to allow improved access for motorists on the A414 turning left onto Southern Way

-          Improve systems for dealing with disruptions on the road, which might ordinarily be exacerbated by the roadworks

-          Provide improved advance information for motorists in the lead up to periods when the roadworks might make road travel in this area more difficult for motorists.

Councillor Hume also confirmed that there will be no planned maintenance work in the areas of diversion during the duration of the roadworks, other than for emergencies.

Councillor Hume also committed to investigating the issues related to traffic diversion in Potter Street as a matter of urgency. Essex has agreed to review the positioning of No HGV signs in response to resident concerns and also agreed to review signs and road humps for the 20mph zone in Potter Street and Southern Way to consider whether they can be refreshed, to make these markings clearer to motorists.  Essex has also agreed to collect speed data on Potter Street to determine the extent of speeding issue vehicles diverting through Potter Street because of the road works.

Mr Rammell however continues to support residents in pushing Essex for additional works to alleviate the impact of an increase in traffic and speeding vehicles, particularly helping mothers and children on their way to school in the morning, including

-          A barrier to be installed at the end of the footpath at the side of Wrights Court

-          Barriers to protect children and pedestrians at the junction of Red Lion Lane and Potter Street

-          Bollards along the footpath outside the community centre at the junction of Southern Way and Potter Street to stop drivers parking illegally on the footpath and causing an obstruction.

Mr Rammell has also written to Chief Superintendent Tim Stokes to request additional police numbers to enforce the 20mph zone in Potter Street.

Bill Rammell MP said: “My priority has always been to work to reduce congestion in Harlow, most importantly pressing for the crucial A414 / M11 link road, and I was pleased when the Government announced that funding would go towards widening the A414, a vital milestone in my campaign. However, I have recently become increasingly concerned that Essex County Council’s roadworks are making the situation unbearable for motorists in the short term.  Following today’s conversation, I am pleased that Councillor Hume has committed to some measures which will partly ease the situation in the short term. I will continue to press Councillor Hume and Essex Police to monitor, review, and control the flow of traffic in this area and particularly the additional improvements to Potter Street, including additional police enforcement on the speed limit. The project to widen the A414 is vital to reduce congestion, but motorists and local residents should not have to suffer excessively in the short term.”