A CONCERNED headteacher says plans to expand the A12 pose a “very serious threat” to the safety of school pupils.

Road bosses are set to widen the major route to three lanes between Chelmsford and Marks Tey in the coming years.

Highways chiefs say this is needed, not only to ease congestion, but to make the road safer.

Blueprints for the second junction at Kelvedon – junction 24 – will see it moved back west along the A12 and will link up with Inworth Road.

But parents of children at Messing Primary School, and its headteacher, have now come together to warn of the “frightening” danger of the plans becoming a reality

They fear the lack of pavements, and therefore the frequency of having to walk on the road on the way to school, could create the perfect storm as HGVs could be set to bombard the village when rerouted.

 

Dangerous - Messing Primary Schools head teacher says plans to expand the A12 pose a serious threat to pupils

Dangerous - Messing Primary School's head teacher says plans to expand the A12 pose a serious threat to pupils

 

Headteacher Jackie Halliday said: “At our village school we already teach our children road safety and traffic awareness, as the village has no pavements. Parents are already forced to walk with their children in the roads.

“The plans proposed will bring many more vehicles, including huge lorries, onto the narrow country lanes which surround the school.

“There are no safe places for parents to shelter and they are forced onto the verges when a vehicle comes past.

“The children will be frightened of these huge vehicles which will be within inches of them as they go by.

 

Dangerous - Messing Primary Schools head teacher says plans to expand the A12 pose a serious threat to pupils

Dangerous - Messing Primary School's head teacher says plans to expand the A12 pose a serious threat to pupils

 

“The fumes too will be a real issue for them, whether walking to school or playing in the grounds, as they will be in such close proximity to the vehicles as they accelerate up the hills.’

“The proposal is a serious threat to the safety of the children.”

Lianna Shea walks to school with her two young children.

She added: “Big HGVs would frighten the children by their sheer size and noise. We really would not want any toxic fumes alongside the children’s playground too.

“It is already a huge concern when walking to school without pavements, let alone if there is a massive increase of traffic on the roads.”