Agenda and draft minutes

David Sprunt, Transportation and Infrastructure Lead West Essex – Essex County Council, gave a presentation on cycling improvements on First Avenue. A copy of the presentation is appended to the minutes.

Concerns were raised about the positioning of the crossings. In response to questions, David Sprunt said that the crossings were positioned to meet government guidance, as well as matching the desire paths of residents.

There would be other works along First Avenue as part of the sustainable transport corridor. These would help address wider safety concerns.

The Chairman welcomed all attendees to the meeting and invited Councillors and Officers to introduce themselves.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Michael Hardware and Maggie Hulcoop.

Agreed.

None.

Councillor Purse spoke on behalf of residents at Potter Street. She said that the safety concerns of residents had not been addressed over several years, even though the issues had been considered urgent.

It was explained that the Highways Panel could no longer accept new schemes for validation. There would be a two year rolling programme, but this had a limited budget and the improvements to Potter Street couldn’t be financed at the moment through the Panel.

It was agreed that the Chair would speak to the Cabinet member about how the improvements could be funded outside of the Panel. The Chair also said that he would take his Highways Buddy to Potter Street so they could see the issues.

Councillor Purse would send Councillor Johnson a list of maintenance issues on Potter Street.

The report was noted.

The Panel received a report on schemes awaiting funding.

RESOLVED that:

A     The following schemes be funded:

                              i)        Commonside Road – Implementation of Traffic Calming Improvements - £66,400

                             ii)        Passmore Phase 2 - Implementation of Cycle Route Improvements - £210,400

                           iii)        Three Horseshoes Road – Dropped Crossing - £18,000

                           iv)        Mallows Green – Barrier Amendment - £9,900

                            v)        Joyners Field – Dropped Kerb - £32,900

                           vi)        Church Langley Way – HGV Signs - £18,000

                          vii)        Thurstans – No Entry Signage - £9,800

                         viii)        Brookside – School Keep Clear for Katherines Primary School - £16,300

B     The following schemes have been removed from the list be considered out of scope for 2025/26 and 2026/27.

                              i)        Abercrombie Way/Southern Way – Dropped Crossing £74,500

                             ii)        Altham Grove – Pedestrian Route – Dropped Crossings – Design - £7,500

                           iii)        First Avenue – Bus Shelter - £42,600

                           iv)        A414 Church Langley Bus Lane Improvements – Feasibility - £10,500

                            v)        Potter Street – Traffic Calming Improvements to existing 20 mph zone £165,000

                           vi)        Tillwicks Road – Verge Protection Measures - £27,300

                          vii)        Moorfields – Parking Bay Markings - £9,300

                         viii)        Paringdon Road – Traffic Calming Improvements - £219,000

                           ix)        Southern Way – 40mph Speed Limit Enhancement – Feasibility - £8,300

                            x)        Upper Park – Parking Provision - Feasibility - £9,800

                           xi)        Commonside Road – South-west section from Tysea Road to Paringdon Road – Traffic Calming – Feasibility - £7,500

                          xii)        Joyners Field – Parking Improvements - Feasibility - £9,000

                         xiii)        Maddox Road – Layby Improvements – Design - £5,300

                         xiv)        Altham Grove – Yellow Box and Parking Restrictions – Design - £6,300

                          xv)        Westfield/Tendring Road – Echelon Parking Conversion of grass verge – Design - £7,500

None.

A meeting would be arranged for October 2025.