A ONE way system is to be set up in Wivenhoe in a bid to improve safety.

Elmstead Road in Wivenhoe is being used as a diversion route whilst a new cycle path is created to the University of Essex.

But councillors have claimed the road is unfit to take the volume of traffic and is unsafe.

Now Essex County Council has made the road one way in a bid to ease the problem.

Wivenhoe councillors cited a number of accidents since work started on the cycle path.

The road is currently being used by buses unable to use Colchester Road while work is being carried out.

It will become one way only from Brightlingsea Road, along Elmstead Road towards Wivenhoe.

Ward councillor Jon Manning said the one way system was a good idea but it showed the county council has not listened to residents.

He said: “It just seems like one botched job after another and they are just sticking plasters over things.

“We are now just going to have the problem moved to an even more dodgy exist on an even quicker bit of road.

“The one way system is great but they should keep at least half of the road open, I don’t see why they had to close it.”

There is an official diversion in place taking drivers from Wivenhoe to the Brightlingsea Road via Alresford Road.

The diverted bus route remains via Elmstead Road returning via Keelars Lane.

The county council said measures have been taken as buses and other vehicles were driving onto the verges to pass each other.

Rodney Bass, Essex County Council cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “Having monitored the traffic along Elmstead Road and listened to local concerns, we have arranged to make Elmstead Road one way for safety reasons.

“This will allow the majority of bus services to continue their local services and will mitigate the current safety concerns.”

Councillors have been demanding safety measures for weeks after a number of accidents on the road.

Mark Cory, a Wivenhoe councillor, asked the county council if he could pay for temporary speed bumps, at a cost of about £70 each.

But the council said traffic calming measures are subject to Department for Transport regulations and a Traffic Regulation Order could not be issued in time.

Mr Cory said: “Nothing surprises me any more, it’s an absolute joke.

“The lack of communication is one of the biggest issues, there’s an ignorance and lack of care for residents.

“I have not been exaggerating this, there has been, and will be, more accidents.”