The Gazette carried an interesting article about the proposed widening of the A12 from Chelmsford to Marks Tey, querying why there needed to be ten lanes between Kelvedon Junction 24 and Marks Tey Junction 25 (Gazette, July 16, “Parts of A12 set to become TEN lanes?”).

Having watched a Highways England (HE) webinar, visited an exhibition and read the brochure, I still don’t have the answer to that, but what I can say is that failing to following the existing line of the road, makes little sense.

It also undermines the HE’s recently announced strategy to make the road network carbon neutral in 2050.

The proposals show a new 6-lane highway parallel to the 4-lane A12 for most of the way from J24 to J25 (about 3 miles).

That is a waste of arable farmland, damaging to the environment and with its extra bends, probably more dangerous.

Additionally, the new route would be longer.

READ MORE:

If that’s just half a mile, the cost would be circa £40million based on the scheme cost as a whole, but in practice probably much more.

With 90,000 vehicles using the A12 every day, that would generate a whole lot of extra pollution.

To add extra lanes to the existing route would inevitably affect some houses and businesses but, to the south, there are less than 10 properties along that stretch.

Whilst it’s generally upsetting to have a home compulsorily acquired, to some it would be a benefit not to be sandwiched between 2 large roads.

Another deficiency in the published scheme is the lack of a plan for the new A120 junction.

Essex County Council selected the route about three years ago after lengthy consultations.

Although that plan has yet to secure funding, surely some acknowledgement of the new junction between Rivenhall and Kelvedon, would be prudent?

In any event, as the A12 consultation ends at 11.59pm on Monday, 16 August, everyone wishing to comment should log on to: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/east/a12-chelmsford-to-a120-widening-scheme

Noel Mead

Bracks Cottage, Coggeshall