THE CHAFFORD HUNDRED community forum has slammed the Thurrock Labour group over what they claim to have been a lack of consultation over weight restrictions on Devonshire Road.
Lorries over 7.5 tonnes are not permitted to drive down Devonshire Road instead they are required to drive through the residential parts of West Thurrock.
In the minutes of the AGM, chairperson Philomena Cleavley writes:
“The Devonshire Road saga is continuing – nothing has been decided as yet but residents on the night questioned the way Labour have gone about this so called consultation – they have not engaged with residents, they are not answering any questions raised, and are not taking any notice of concerns raised by residents.
“We await further feedback via our ward councilors. Consensus on the night from residents was that this is now a political issue that has reignited since Labour took control of the council.
“We will not allow this problem to be moved between London Road and Devonshire Road and back again – there must be a long term solution – relief roads and moving industry away from this area which will mean less lorries.”
But local councillor for West Thurrock, cllr Oliver Gerrish has hit back at claims at a lack of consultation.
“This has been one of the most open and well-scrutinised decisions that the council has made. It has been to cabinet several times and through overview & scrutiny, where the details of the decision were reviewed by members, with residents in attendance and speaking on the matter.
It was also the subject of a members workshop in June 2011 where there was detailed discussion of all the issues. This process has taken a long time, so any suggestion that it has been rushed through is completely ridiculous.
There has been real consideration of the mitigation measures needed to minimise the impact on the areas surrounding Devonshire Road.
“The facts of the situation are straightforward. There are 181 houses in South Stifford with direct frontage onto London road, versus none on Devonshire road. For me, this makes it very clear that the correct decision has been reached.
“I cannot see how any neutral observer would think it sensible to direct huge numbers of HGVs along London Road. It is a residential area and should be protected from these levels of lorry traffic.”
According to Labour, the community forum was invited to a council Lets Talk event in Chafford Hundred in December where the chief executive, council leader and portfolio holders were available to answer questions on Devonshire Road but the forum failed to attend.
It’s also worth remembering Devonshire Road was built as a relief road in the first place!
well said Ben Gatsbury,its been disgraceful that a few chafford nimbys have been able to blockade a purpose built relief road.
Ben, Rocket , I don’t disagree with you on the fact that these Lorries should not be going down London road.
I would prefer that any Lorries were not near residential properties at all.
I cannot see however how this would work fully; I get some Lorries would use Devonshire Road that are just to the south, and east. There are still lots of industry at various points along London Road that I guess cannot avoid it. How well can this be controlled to allow for these industries to still operate with Lorries taking the shortest route away from the homes.
a weight limit on london rd from mill lane to the big roundabout,theres only the old magnet site along there.most of the traffic comes from askew farm lane and should turn straight up devonshire rd.
Agreed, rocket1. That chafford hundred forum is simply the chafford Tory ward party. They have been successfully managed by Hague and Tunde for many of their re election issues. Fair dues! Alas ‘fraid this time common sense prevails I.e. Lorry traffic from askew farm to travel up purpose built relief road. Now for a decent phone mast, get some decent GPRS around here.
Seems like the NIMBYS will not get their way this time, as has been stated Devonshire Road was originally built and designed as a relief road to take the HGV traffic away from the old victorian build London Road, for far too long now the Chafford Hundred residents have got their way to maintain the weight limit whilst the local residents in London Road continue to suffer, it is about time that TBC took the bull by the horns and put Devonshire Road to its designated use.
As for the Chafford Forum, if they were so concerned why did they not attend the councils Lets Talk Event???
http://youtu.be/179k_sn58GA
Oliver Gerrish needs a trip up Devonshire Road which would show that there are houses which front onto the road and a number of flats so sending traffic up there will simply shift the problem from London Road onto Devonshire Road.
I understand the point about lorries from Askews Farm going up there, that makes sense.
This one issue shows how ineffective councils are. Why build a relief road then allow houses and flats to be built next to it in the first place?
Why have so much industry south the of London Road without one direct road allowing lorries to travel from the Lakeside/West Thurrock roundabout straight across into the industrial sites?
There is no doubt that London Road needs a major overhaul but I’ll be surprised if this will end all the problems of London Road.
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mike,any news when the weight limit is coming off,seems to have been dragging on for ages.