Shenfield Councillors call for action to prevent traffic chaos on Chelmsford Road 'the A1023'

Essex County Council urged to manage significant developments in Shenfield or face commuter gridlock

Shenfield Liberal Democrat Councillor David Worsfold has written to Tom Cunningham, Essex County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, to demand action to prevent traffic chaos on Chelmsford Road – the A1023 – when the huge development works start.

“We now have four significant developments with planning permission that will be built along Chelmsford Road, with a series of five junctions and roundabouts needing to be constructed between the Mountnessing interchange and Alexander Lane. These have the potential to cause traffic chaos on what is a busy road. The developers cannot be allowed to work to their own timetable. This must be managed by Essex Highways.

“This is already a very busy road, with queuing traffic most mornings and evenings.

“Failure to get to grips with this will result in traffic chaos for months. Not only will this be hugely inconvenient to residents, visitors to Shenfield and Brentwood and damaging to local businesses, but it will also be dangerous.”

Brentwood Liberal Democrats are worried there will be traffic queues back across the Mountnessing interchange, which will, in turn, cause queues to form on the slip roads from the A12, affecting nearby Shenfield, Hutton and Mountnessing.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat County Councillor Barry Aspinell agreed with Cllr Worsfold, saying: “The most disruptive works, which will involve contra-flows and temporary traffic lights, must be carried out in the school holidays. This is just common sense—any other timing risk would cause complete gridlock.”

Cllr Worsfold concluded: “I do not want to hear any feeble excuses about not being able to get developers to work together. That is not acceptable. It is our road, our town and our community. They must be told that co-operation to avoid chaos is essential.”

David Worsfold Letter to Tom Cunningham (ECC) Re: Chelmsford Road junction construction management