A masterplan is being created to tackle congestion across Braintree town centre.

Essex County Council is working on a number of traffic management measures for the town under the guise of the Braintree Integrated Transport Plan, including two key schemes which are set to go to public consultation this month.

Once the potential schemes are agreed, a bid for funding will be submitted to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Fund.

The first notorious congestion point the council will attempt the tackle is the roundabout linking Rayne Road with the Springwood Drive Industrial Estate.

Here, the road could be widened in a bid to increase capacity and accessibility for drivers.

An additional lane may be added on the southern approach from Pod's Brook Road to ease delays, whilst updated road markings are set to be added.

Delays for workers on the industrial estate are notorious, with traffic on and off the estate barely moving above a crawl at peak times.

Andy Farrow, who runs Chameleon Costumes in the estate, said: "To be honest we had a meeting two years ago about the problems and nothing has changed since then.

But any improvements are going to be welcomed.

"The workers, the council and residents have known something needs to be done for a long time, but what to do is a different story.

"The traffic has become so bad I have customers telling me they are not visiting me at certain times of the day."

Next, a one-way system could be implemented on the roads around Braintree Station, travelling from east to west along Station Approach.

Added accessibility on the roads around station is set to implemented for cyclists, and a new "urbanised" pedestrianised area could replace the existing bus turning circle.

New bus stop facilities would be added beside the station to replace those which are lost.

Both schemes will go to out to public consultation from Monday, September 24, for six weeks.

Engagement events will also be held on Saturday, October 6, at Braintree Town Hall, and on Friday, October 12, at Alec Hunter Academy, where residents can see the plans in more details.

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are working with key partners, including Braintree District Council, to review access to Braintree Town Centre and how this could be improved.

"Two key schemes - Springwood Drive Roundabout and Station Access – are a major part of this work, with proposals aimed at increasing capacity in these areas and helping to improve access and traffic flow."

“A six-week public consultation is due to open on 24 September, before more detailed design work is undertaken in Spring 2019.

"Subject to successful funding, both schemes are scheduled to commence early 2020.”

Essex County Council and Braintree Council are also working on plans to create two new slip roads connection Millennium Way with the A120.

Although not part of the transport plan, the council says it will contribute to improving access to the town centre.

The plans, which will be paid for via funding from the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund, will go on display at the public exhibitions.

To find out more about the Braintree Integrated Transport Plan, visit https://bit.ly/2CGZdkn.

Braintree and Witham Times:

A map of the proposals