A VETERAN councillor is retiring after finally admitting defeat in his two decade campaign for safety improvements on the A120.

Nigel Fitch, who joined Marks Tey Parish Council in 1992, says crashes, near misses and narrow footpaths for pedestrians compelled the council to call repeatedly for upgrades.

However, residents’ campaigns, attempts at lobbying Government ministers and meetings with highways bosses have failed to lower the speed limit on a stretch through the village, from 40mph to 30mph. Mr Fitch, 73, said an officer from the Highways Agency visited in August and nearly got “clipped” by a lorry while walking along the narrow pavement.

But the councillor, who has been chairman since 2000, later received a letter saying any improvements would come only withamajor overhaul of the A120 to Marks Tey, which is likely to be years away.

See Friday's Gazette for the full interview