Southend Council says that it will outline its plans to support motorists during work linked to the closure of the Queensway underpass “within weeks”.
The Place Overview and Scrutiny meeting held on 18 June saw discussions around The Better Queensway scheme and its impact, says Essex Live. One of the deadlines includes an eight-week strategy to support motorists during the closure of Queensway, which was due by 14 May, but has yet to be completed due to the required governance process.
An urgent independent impact report on the closure of the underpass, which was due by 19 June has not been commissioned, the meeting heard.
The Better Queensway project plans to improve infrastructure in the area, with upgraded roads, safer walking and cycling routes and better-designed public spaces. Improving housing in the Queensway area is also a key aspect of the plan.
Currently, road widening on Sutton Road is taking place to make way for a new mini roundabout on Southchurch Road, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety once installed.
During the meeting, councillors acknowledged the delays and said the work is now expected to be ready in four weeks, with the aim of presenting it at a council meeting in September.
At the 18 June meeting Reform councillor Alex Moyies criticised the lack of progress, and asked why the report was not formed or delayed and if it would be ready for its deadline.
“On 19 March, Council agreed that an urgent independent impact report was needed within three months. That deadline fell today.
“Cabinet has not commissioned it, has not discussed it, and has not progressed it. The eight-week motorist support strategy that the Executive Director was instructed to publish does not exist either.
“Residents and businesses around Queensway have been paying the price for this disruption every single day. They were promised action by council. They have not received it. This committee asked the executive director and the cabinet member to explain why, and we will be returning to this matter at future meetings until it is resolved.”
Southend Council leader Daniel Cowan said:
“It will not be ready tomorrow, it is one of those quirks that the motion went on March 19, but it stands referred to cabinet so the decisions don’t get made immediately on that day.
“We still have to go away commission the work etc it also happened so close to the local elections it’s difficult for the officers to commission the work. But it has been done and I believe it will be ready within four weeks.”
Labour councillor Kevin Robinson added:
“There are a number of policy documents the council had that binds together that support motorists and other documents we’re working on due to the timeframe of the local elections. These things had to be put into the equation.”
Developer Taylor Woodrow and the council have also said they are working closely with the Southend Tourism Partnership and Southend City Business Improvement District to prepare for the busy summer period.
(Picture: Taylor Woodrow/Southend Council)
