AT the end of last year Thurrock Council’s cabinet agreed to look at ways to improve the traffic flow and driving experience for people visiting Grays.
On Wednesday (9 September) cabinet agreed to put the first phase of those proposals into action.
Cllr Oliver Gerrish, portfolio holder for transportation, described the proposals as “exciting and overdue” with “strong community support”.
He said a consultation on the proposals had attracted 178 responses, of which 81 per cent supported the proposal for two-way traffic in Crown Road; 84 per cent supported two-way traffic in Orsett Road; and 82 per cent agreed that improvements to the existing network and one-way system were needed.
Well over two thirds added that the town needed more and improved cycle links.
“It’s great news for the town centre and great news for business too,” he added.
Leader of the Council and ward member, Cllr John Kent, said he backed the plan to remove the width restriction in Bridge Road and put traffic lights there instead so long as there was no compromise on safety, either for pedestrians or on the bridge itself.
He said: “The twin effects of taking HGVs heading for Curzon Drive off the main Orsett Road and allowing a bus connection along Bridge Road and the full length of Argent Street have to be good things and really positive for the rest of Grays.
“These proposals seen alongside the plans for a new and improved rail crossing, to soon-to-open Magistrates’ Court business centre and making the link between the town and the river more attractive and accessible will bring about the long-awaited revitalisation of Grays.
“It’s lots of small steps so nobody really notices change, but this is a major milestone.”
Among the proposal for phase one are confirming the Bridge Road bridge has the capacity to accommodate buses; allowing all turning movement at the Stanley Road/Clarence Road junction; a one-year suspension (for monitoring) of the east-bound bus lane on Crown Road to allow the multi-storey traffic to legally turn left; banning HGVs from turning left from Derby Road into London Road at the theatre; creating a bus gate at the Argent Street/Wouldham Road junction; and better cycle links and cycle parking facilities in and around the town.
Members agreed the second phase work should follow automatically after full monitoring of the impact of Phase 1.
These should include changing Orsett Road to two-way between Derby Road and Stanley Road.
