A wide-ranging package of road proposals will drop through 2,000 Castle Point letterboxes by the end of the week.

The move comes as part of Essex County Council's ongoing consultation, which ends on February 14, to seek residents' views on plans to tackle congestion in the borough.

The South Essex Multi-Modal Study focuses on 12 road schemes and it is hoped the public will make clear which one they prefer.

A series of packed exhibitions have taken place since November during which 1,700 people requested the information pack which includes a questionnaire and plan diagrams - a further 300 contacted County Hall by post.

Hadleigh county councillor Ron Williams, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "There has already been a huge public response to the improvement proposals.

"It is so important we receive as wide a range of views as possible before difficult decisions are made. I urge people to return their questionnaires by the deadline date."

Around 500 residents will be involved in a series of face-to-face interviews over the next few weeks - these will be conducted by Mori, the market research consultants.

All public responses will be considered by the county and Castle Point Council during the next few months and a decision on preferred schemes will be made around July when recommendations will be made to the Government for cash.

Brian Wilson, Castle Point Council's lead member for highways and transportation, said: "I am grateful to all those who have responded so far and encourage others to make their views known."

Copies of information packs are available from council offices and libraries.

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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