Letter: A12 'three lane' widening works 'will bring serious negatives'

The positives include a safer, multi-directional junction at Inworth that will replace Kelvedon’s Chelmsford-bound only junction 23 and Feering’s Colchester-bound only junction 24.

This will have the benefit of taking Tiptree traffic bound for the A12 off Kelvedon High Street and Feering Hill.

However, the new proposed Inworth junction raises new problems for the Gore Pit junction at Feering (locally known as the Blue Anchor junction).

Councillor Paul Thorogood (Image: Newsquest)

This already very busy junction at the top of Feering Hill will simply not be able to cope if the current plans go ahead because all A12 traffic from Kelvedon, Feering and the Coggeshall hinterland will be using it.

It is essential that a new link road from the Inworth junction around the back of the Threshelfords business park, through the Crown Estates land in Feering is built for traffic going to and from the A12 to avoid Gore Pit.

This must be agreed and included in the plans if huge traffic jams at the Gore Pit junction are to be avoided - jams that could extend all the way back to the A12 itself.

The narrow Hinds Bridge that goes over Domsey Brook on the Inworth Road must also be widened - it can barely cope with two cars passing each way and can’t cope with two lorries.

In short, National Highways’ current plans don’t take into consideration the impact the new three-lane A12 and new junctions will have on local roads.

If the new three-lane A12 goes ahead, the de-trunking of the current A12 from Marks Tey to Feering is an opportunity to create a 4km-long linear country park for walkers, cyclists and horse riders while still keeping access for local residents and businesses.

National Highways must help pay for the linear park rather than just handing it over to Essex Highways and walking away.

Essex Highways simply doesn’t have the money to turn it into a linear park itself or maintain the current dual two-lane carriageway.