A12 re-route through Copford would 'decimate' village

In March, the Gazette revealed £100 million plans put forward by Essex County Council to alter the existing A12 route around junction 25, at Marks Tey.

The rough plans show the new route could see the current road break off before junction 25, continue through fields before re-joining the carriageway through what is known as the Car Boot Field, in London Road, Copford.

The plans have passed the first of two Government tests.

Residents whose homes are at risk are now calling for answers on the project, claiming they have been “fobbed off” by Essex Highways chiefs.

County Hall bosses have said the ambitious plans are in their infancy but have promised a further consultation on the plans will take place in the future. Any consultation is likely to include more than one route.

Sue Todd, who has lived opposite the car boot field for almost 40 years, has warned her home could be “right under” the new A12 or - worse - be within metres of it.

The 62-year-old said: “We have been here 40 years and spent so much on making this house a home.

“According to the plans which have been circulated, I am right under this new six-lane A12.

Home - Sue Todd lives opposite the car boot sale field 

“We’ve tried to contact so many people for them to come and speak to us, but we have just been fobbed off.

“No-one is talking to anybody. This is going to decimate Copford.

“There are people here who have spent perhaps their whole lives here and they have a right to know what the plans for their homes are.”

Mrs Todd is one of a group of dozens of residents which is strongly opposing the re-route plans.

The group has also hit out at Marks Tey Parish Council, which has appeared to back the plans in a response to a consultation on the controversial new town, dubbed West Tey.

In its response, the council states plans to create a new town between Marks Tey and Feering are “sound”, provided the A12 is re-routed “round the back of the existing Marks Tey London Road shops, between Marks Tey and Copford and joining the existing A12 through the existing car boot sale site”.

Neil Gilbranch, a leading critic of the plans, said: “The money which they are hoping to get is from a fund for housing, so what they’re saying is they want £100 million to support 8,000 homes in West Tey - that’s £12,500 per home, which seems pretty steep.”

The retired engineer also pointed to plans to build 33 homes per hectare in the new town and allow for between 40 per cent and 60 per cent open space, which he claimed could decrease the number of homes by almost half.

He added: “They keep saying there is nothing to say on the plans because they are so early but they have made the bid for the money, so you would hope they have thought through what they would do with the money if they got it.

“They have officially said - though this bid - they want to build the A12 here and we want answers.”

An Essex County Council spokesman said although Highways England had previously proposed a re-alignment of the A12, a more dramatic move would allow for “the [garden] community to be built to its full potential” but would be too expensive for the agency to fund on its own - hence the £100 million bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

He said: “Now that bid has been shortlisted, Essex County Council will be working with Highways England, the district councils, NEGC and the Ministry for Housing to look at creating a technical business case.”

As part of that, Highways England will be tasked with carrying out a feasibility study into potential routes.

If the routes are found to be viable, the public would then be consulted.

Once that consultation is finished, Highways England would put forward a preferred route to the Department for Transport, where the final decision would be made.

n Neil Gilbranch (Ind) is standing for election in Marks Tey and Layer against Mark Hull (Lib Dem), Jackie Maclean (Con), John Spademan (Labour) and Matt Stemp (Green).