RESIDENTS who responded to plans to widen the A12 have been praised by a prospective MP.

Priti Patel, Conservative candidate for Witham, has welcomed the constructive response to plans to widen the A12 between Chelmsford and Marks Tey.

The £250 million scheme had more than 900 responses from residents.

Highways engineers Ringway Jacobs said option two, widening the A12 between junctions 19 and 24 and building two bypasses at Rivenhall and Marks Tey, is a favourable option.

Ms Patel said: “The widening of the A12 is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the east of England.

It will unlock thousands of new jobs, support economic growth and make journeys safer.

“There is overall support for the scheme and the public responses I have seen were constructive in highlighting local impacts. The widening of the A12 should also act as a catalyst to improve local connections to the A12 and ease congestion in villages.

There are four options in total being consulted on for the A12 widening scheme.