Rebecca has called for the Council to use the traffic chaos as evidence that Castle Point cannot take thousands more houses.
Writing last week, Rebecca said that the recent traffic chaos has shown in the clearest possible way that it only takes one major disruption for large parts of Castle Point to grind to a halt.
Rebecca wrote to Essex County Council asking them to carry out an urgent Highway Network Resilience Assessment using real-world traffic data from these works. She argued that the evidence could then be submitted to the Planning Inspector examining Castle Point’s Local Plan later this summer.
Rebecca said: "The Council have to make sure it is documented in a way that strengthens the case against overdevelopment in Castle Point."
"Given our roads cannot cope now, how can they possibly cope with the Government’s excessive housing targets and the huge amount of development proposed on Canvey Island, or if the Government tell the Council to build on the Potential Grey Belt sites the Council have designated?"
The Highway Network Assessment could provide vital evidence to support the case for lower housing numbers that reflect Castle Point’s unique constraints. It could also strengthen the argument for restarting the Canvey West Access Taskforce, something Rebecca established with Castle Point Council but the Council almost immediately disbanded. Rebecca believes that Castle Point desperately needs another connection to the strategic road network, and this evidence could help demonstrate why.
Rebecca hopes Essex County Council agrees to carry out this work and that local councillors from all parties will support these sensible requests.
She concluded by saying: "This isn’t about politics. It’s about getting the facts, protecting our communities and making the strongest possible case for the infrastructure our residents deserve."
