Councillors in Little Burstead have united to condemn heavy vehicles which are destroying grass verges and roads in the village.

District and parish councillors have slammed drivers they say are destroying areas including Tye Common Road, Botney Hill Road, Rectory Road and Hatches Farm Road.

Traffic has increased recently in the village, mainly because of a number of major building developments going on in Billericay.

Basildon councillor Ian Robertson, Liberal Democrat for Burstead, said he had been contacted by a number of residents concerned for their safety.

He said: "The roads are simply not capable of carrying these kinds of vehicles and very soon there will be a serious accident.

"At present when two vehicles of this type come across each other, one of them is faced with mounting the grass verge, destroying it.

"I am calling upon Basildon Council to come up with a plan in co-operation with the police to put an end to the misery that the heavy vehicles are causing local residents."

He was joined in his call by Little Burstead parish council chairman Mark Dale, who said the council had been campaigning for a village-wide traffic weight restriction for a year.

He said: "We asked for this a long time ago and no-one wanted to know - it's a bit late now unfortunately.

"We are tired of seeing all the verges destroyed and the safety hazard to the large village walking community.

"We will support Mr Robertson as a parish council in anything he tries to do."

Co-operation - district councillor Ian Robertson

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