Today I went with the South Benfleet Essex County Councillor Andrew Sheldon to see the Essex and Suffolk Water mains replacement and diversion works between Tarpots and Sadlers Farm on the London Road.

Having been stuck in traffic there several times this week it was interesting to see the works on foot and not just from behind the wheel of a car in a queue to get through Tarpots!

The workers on site are clearly making every effort to shorten the duration of the eastbound lane closure and I am pleased they are planning to remove it on Sunday morning several days ahead of schedule.

Cllr Sheldon asked for my support to lobby Essex and Suffolk Water to minimise disruption for another part of the eastbound lane closure they have moved to mid-June by getting them to commit the resources necessary for 24 hour weekend working. I am very happy to do so and I will be writing to their CEO on Monday. This is such an important junction for the Borough and every effort has to be made to prevent a repeat of the queues we experienced here earlier this week.

While I was there I raised an issue highlighted to me by residents that as the Bus Stops either side of Tarpots on the London Road were closed, elderly residents were having to walk a long way to get to the shops at Tarpots if they were journeying by bus. The manager on site said he would ask the traffic management workers to review the layout of the cones to see if they could safely reopen one of them. I am pleased that a few hours later they reopened the bus stop by the Tescos Express and they inform me it should remain open for the duration of their remaining works.