CONGESTION-BUSTING proposals to ban lorries from overtaking on the A12 will be pursued by Essex County Council, it has been confirmed.

The council will lobby the Highways Agency to ban HGVs from the fast lane between Marks Tey and Boreham for 16 hours a day.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for transport, tabled a motion which was approved yesterday.

Mr Bass said the long-term hope is for the road to be extended to three lanes between Brentwood and Ipswich, but measures are needed to ease congestion.

He said: “It’s a short-term suggestion to try and make life easier for Essex businesses and people for getting round the county.

“I use the A12 every day. I know what it’s like and know how frustrating it is for residents.

“It’s probably a minority of HGVs who tailgate each other and try and overtake, but it causes delays, difficulties and irritation to motorists.”

UK Independence Party and Green Party members voted against the motion.

James Abbott, leader of the Green group, said he saw the proposal as unworkable and dangerous, and a gimmick to get press attention.

Julie Young, leader of the Labour group, asked what was being done to find alternative ways of moving freight around the county.