CRITICISM is being aimed at highways bosses for not including pedestrian crossings in plans for a new restaurant development.

Matt Floyde, 47, and other Stanway residents flagged up safety concerns for pedestrians when Stane Park was first mooted about three years ago.

Work is now in progress to widen London Road, which leads to Stane Park.

Mr Floyde said it will make matters worse, with no mention of more crossings for access to and from the opposite side.

Mr Floyde claims the authorities do not fully appreciate the extent of the congestion to come.

He said: “When the development was put in for planning permission, residents were told the reason for no crossings was to not disrupt the flow of traffic along the Western Bypass.

“But there’s now the drive-through Costa, the entrance to the large Sainsbury’s store on the bypass which will have more than 1,000 residential properties nearby and as a whole it all builds up.

“I’m looking forward to the restaurants opening but the impact of hasn’t been looked into.

“Our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

“The Western Bypass was there to take the extra traffic from Warren Lane but people are driving into Colchester now.

“This isn’t being caused by local residents.”

Gazette:

To get from his home in London Road to the Argos store at Tollgate, Mr Floyde must tackle two busy roundabouts and the dual carriageways coming off them.

He said it is a “mad dash” to the central island and luck as to whether a cars give way.

The dad-of-two regularly drives his sons, 10 and 14, to school, because he fears for them cross ing roads.

He said: “One of my boys used to go on his scooter but I remember him coming home crying his eyes out because he’d tried to cross at the junction and thought the driver was letting him through.

“Then the guy came to a halt, beeped his horn and shouted abuse so since then he’s been quite wary to cross on his own.

“First thing in the morning drivers aren’t looking for pedestrians, they’re looking for a space in the traffic.

“I’ve stepped out before thinking it’s clear and someone has come hurtling around the corner so it’s only a matter of time before someone is hit.

“I can’t surely be the only one.”

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We intend to review the capacity and crossing facilities avaiable along this stretch of road.”