Mersea Road needs major changes to prevent tragedies, councillor says

Lauren Simonds, who is a resident in Shrub End, has taken it on herself to start a petition after years of efforts from councillor and road safety campaigner David Harris came to nothing.

The petition now has nearly 1,000 signatures and Mr Harris has said it has his full support, with the councillor adding his attempts to persuade Essex Highways to introduce lower speed limits and more pedestrian crossings have been hindered by austerity and local government bureaucracy.

Dangerous - Taylen Ireton was struck by a vehicle outside the Cherry Tree Pub in Mersea Road (Image: Google Street View)

One of the many changes Mr Harris has called for involves the widening of a 30mph zone in Mersea Road, which was the site of a fatal collision on Saturday when 13-year-old Taylen Ireton was killed by a driver.

He said: “What does it have to take?

“For people to be injured and run the gauntlet every day on a road that’s crown over the years?

“It has become an urban road with a school and more people travelling backwards and forwards, making it a busy road.

“I don’t know how much more it will take to convince people that money needs to be put into that and for people to do what’s right.”

In addition to a longer 30mph zone, Mr Harris said has called for a 20mph zone in Holt Drive, flashing activated-vehicle signs in Mersea Road, and a halfway pedestrian island.

Budget - money for road repairs and alterations is provided by Essex County Council (Image: Google Street View)

He continued: “Over the years, that’s what’s happened and none of the things I have put forward came to fruition.”

A change.org petition – which now has 900 signatures – has been launched in the hope Essex County Council will consider the safety measures Mr Harris has applied for.

Mr Harris added: “This needs to persuade Essex Highways because residents are so behind this – they want something done now and not in ten years’ time.”