A PROMINENT campaigner says the existing A12 should be turned into a country park if plans for a six-lane expansion go ahead.

Plans from National Highways propose an additional six lanes are built between Marks Tey and Kelvedon, where there are already four lanes.

Rosie Pearson, who has long campaigned against the “concreting” of rural north Essex, now says this is the “opportunity of a lifetime” to create a green space.

She has launched a petition to create a country park with the current section of the A12, rather than having ten lanes of traffic.

Under her plans, the four kilometre park will have access for cycling, pedestrians and horse riders, with trees planted and wildflower meadows and hedgerows.

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National Highways has stated the existing A12 will still be in use, however Rosie says this should only be for resident access and/or a dedicated bus route to ease traffic.

“Rewilding the A12 will bring some small compensation for loss of countryside and habitat when the new six-lane road is built,” said Mrs Pearson.

“It strikes me in a climate emergency to allow ten lanes of traffic to be crossing rural Essex every day is just unacceptable.

“Instead, I think this is a really exciting opportunity to use the existing A12 for resident use only and turn it into a country park.

“I think the opportunity should be taken to use the current bike path, which is hardly used due to traffic, and turn it into a nice, well-used one.

“For all the people living along the A12, instead of being sandwiched between ten lanes, they can look out to a nice country cycle path with beautiful nature.

“We all need more green space, not just for wildlife, but for our mental health and exercise too. There are so many reasons to not concrete over north Essex and instead create a really nice space.

“Essex is being covered by new housing and we know the council is promising all kinds of things on its green agenda - this is a great chance to put it into practise.

“I think it will pay for itself through easing the amount of maintenance costs which would be needed if there were ten lanes and I seriously hope it is considered.”

To have your say or add your name to the petition, visit bit.ly/3C9N28U.