PLANS to improve a major south Essex junction must be relooked at to consider boosting the whole junction, a political party leader has insisted.

Cllr David Harrison, leader of the Wickford Independants wants Essex County Council to reconsider its plans for the Fairglen Junction to include the whole roundabout and area. 

It comes as the county council started the tendering process in March, with council bosses set to appoint a contractor by the end of this year. Once complete, the scheme would see a one-way link road allowing drivers to skip several miles of the A130 and join the A127 before travelling to Southend without using the Rayleigh Spur roundabout.

Cllr Harrison, who is also a Wickford Independents councillor for Wickford Park said: "To me part of the issue is going to create another junction near the Carpenters Arms pub, that area is always very busy anyway.

"It may help people going from the A130 to the A127 but it does depend what they do at the A127.

"I think it needs to be looked at and I would have thought some of the Rayleigh and Rochford councillors will want to have a say.

"The new homes in Rochford will impact this area too and we need to consider new homes and the whole Fairglen roundabout.

"I am not opposed to improving infrastructure, I think it could be difficult with all the new homes coming and the amount of traffic has to go somewhere. We need to work out if this is the right thing with all these homes and all this traffic coming."

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: "We are keen to progress improvements to the Fairglen Interchange as soon as possible.

"Since we received confirmation from the Department of Transport for the Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order in late 2023, the project team has refined the scope, made improvements to the designs and looked at where value can be gained. This allowed a new tender process to commence in March 2024.

"However, as with other schemes of this size and nature, the process before construction starts can take time. Tenders have now been received and are currently being assessed. As there are commercial sensitivities around this process, we are unable to divulge any details around costs until the process has concluded.

 "We look forward to appointing a contractor by the end of this year with a specific timetable due to be confirmed after appointment. Residents are encouraged to keep up to date on developments at www.essex.gov.uk/fairglen"