Rayleigh residents face ten days of travel chaos early next year when the High Street is torn up to replace gas pipes.

Transco will be replacing the existing pipes on the High Street from the junction of Eastwood Road to Ridgeway between January 7 and January 16.

The work will be carried out overnight between 9.30pm and 5am on weekdays, begin at 3pm on Saturdays and finish at 5am on Sunday and then start again at 9am on Sunday and carry on until 5am on Monday.

The work is likely to cause massive congestion in the town, particularly around the Rayleigh Weir, and councillors have appealed to Transco to do all they can to minimise the problems.

Councillor Derek Helson (Lib Dem, Lodge ward) said: "This is clearly work that has to be done but there needs to be a lot of advance notices suggesting alternative routes to people to try and minimise the inevitable congestion in the town."

A Transco spokesman said: "The work commences at a later time on Saturday in order to prevent loss of trade for the town.

"Temporary traffic lights will be in operation during the working hours and traffic conditions will be closely monitored - with particular attention to peak hours in the evening - in order to prevent major congestion at the Rayleigh Weir Junction with the A127."

He added: "Advance warning notices have been put in place in the High Street and at the Rayleigh Weir in order to provide as much notice as possible to local residents, traders and the travelling public.

"Transco is sorry for any inconvenience caused and will be working as quickly as possible to complete the works."

Published Friday December 28, 2001