Villagers’ nightmare

The disused Essex County Council Highways depot on the Roman Road has been transformed into a base by civil engineers Alfred McAlpine while it carries out extensive, round the clock repairs to the bypass.

Three portable buildings have already been installed and Essex County Council, which owns the site, has approved the company's request for 24-hour access until April, when the work is due to be completed.

But people living in The Quorn and The Heythrop, which back on to the site, claim that the depot's new lease of life is destroying their privacy. They fear months of sleepless nights.

Brian Tytherleigh, who lives on The Heythrop, has joined his neighbours in launching a campaign to call a halt to the work, and is even considering legal action.

He said: "We are going to fight it in any way we can. We had absolutely no warning that this was going to happen. In fact the letter from McAlpines only arrived two days after they had moved in.

"We get woken up twice a night on average at the moment, and it's likely to get worse as time goes on. It is totally unacceptable that such work should be allowed on a Green Belt site in such close proximity to residential properties."

Andrew James, project manager for Alfred McAlpine, said: "We will require access to the site 24 hours a day, but there is no intention to run heavy vehicles onto the site. We are endeavouring to resolve the issues raised by the complainants as amicably as possible."

Colin Cranley from Essex County Council added: "McAlpine have said that some work will need to be done at night and accordingly that the depot must be available 24 hours a day, but that does not mean that it will actually be used around the clock."

Up in arms: Brian Tytherleigh, who lives on The Heythrop, has joined his neighbours in launching a campaign to call a halt to the work, and is even considering legal action.

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