A new major junction on the M11 in the Sheering area could have devastating effects for Essex, a councillor has warned.

Cllr Gerard McEwen, who represents Ongar on the county council, intervened during a debate at Tuesday's county cabinet meeting which was considering the London South Midlands multi-modal study.

This is a Government study looking at the transport needs of an area to the north and north west of London - similar to the LOIS (London to Ipswich corridor) study.

Although the report has not proposed a link from the M11 to the former A414 (now the A1060), an east-west route north of Harlow, with another junction on the M11, may be part of a future strategy for the whole of the London, Stansted, Cambridge area, linked with proposals for Stansted Airport, a report to the cabinet pointed out.

And it was known that Hertfordshire County Council favours an option of extending the A414 from Eastwick in that county across north Harlow, to a new junction with the M11 at Sheering, councillors were told.

Cllr McEwen warned this would suit Hertfordshire, but affect Essex.

"It would cause chaos on that stretch of the M11. They first suggested it about 12 years ago and we won the day on that engagement," he said. "Now they are reviving it and trying again. It would suit Hertfordshire to do that, but it would affect all of Essex."

It could affect Chelmsford by taking more traffic to the north of Roxwell and Writtle and into the town via Roxwell Road and Rainsford Road, he warned.

Essex County Council's response to consultation on the study should be strengthened to stress opposition to such a scheme, he said.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire County Council said that before any decisions were made on major road schemes neighbouring authorities, such as Essex County Council and borough and district councils would be fully consulted.

Published Friday November 15, 2002

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