Shocked residents believe the unexpected removal of the mini roundabout by their homes will causes accidents and further congestion.

Essex Highways has revamped Braintree Road, Witham, at its junction with Cypress Road, replacing the roundabout with a dedicated right turn lane.

The junction remodelling took place overnight on Thursday and was agreed as part of Bellway Homes’ Rivenhall Park development.

But residents claim they knew nothing about the changes and feel they should have been consulted.

Tina Townsend, chairman of Witham Chamber of Commerce, has been contacted by many angry residents over the changes.

She said: “Nobody has consulted with the people who live on the estate.

“There are people who live right on top of the junction who weren’t even aware this was happening.

“I am flabbergasted they can make such a junction change without any consultation.”

The dedicated right turn lane for Cypress Road has been created from Braintree Road to increase traffic flow from Braintree.

The islands pedestrians use to cross the road in Cypress Road, have also been removed as part of the scheme.

Residents worry the changes will increase congestion and also put the public at risk, particularly those walking to nearby primary Templars Academy, or secondary school New Rickstones Academy.

Mrs Townsend said: “If they had asked a few people in Witham they would be aware it gets very busy between 7.30am and 9.30am and then between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

“A lot of commuters park in the area so it does get very busy.

“This is going to make it worse for people to come off the new estate.

“It will make things more dangerous for walkers as well.

“I do not see how this has made things better for residents.

“It has been like this previously and then they changed it because it was causing so many problems - why has it been changed again?”

The Rivenhall Park estate, is located in Forest Road, off Cypress Road, and will consist of more than 300 houses once complete.

Rickstones Road was also resurfaced as part of the roadworks scheme, causing delays across the town from last Monday until Friday.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “These changes to the junction layout at Cypress Road and Braintree Road are part of a planning obligation for Bellway Homes and were agreed by Essex Highways and Braintree Council as part of the development in north east Witham.

“The scheme has been properly evaluated to increase road capacity and so reduce congestion and has been through our Safety Audit process.

“Essex Highways are currently also resurfacing the road at the junction as part of the improvement works.”

Bellway Homes did not respond to The Times’ requests for comment.