VILLAGERS have started an action group to fight their corner during the consultation over dualling the A120.

The Stisted Action Group is unhappy the village was not invited to host a consultation event by Essex County Council or Jacobs.

A spokesman for the group said: “It is hoped this failure will be addressed in the near future and a consultation arranged so the residents can have the opportunity to ask some questions and get facts about the plan, as other communities have been allowed to.

“In the meantime an action group has been set up to make sure everyone understands exactly what is at stake and what they can do about it.”

Placards have been put up around the village, a petition is being circulated and the action group went as far as to hold its own consultation with residents at the village hall on Sunday.

Stisted Action Group is also firmly against route option A, the only route to follow any of the current A120, and says it will “change the fabric of the village”.

The spokesman continued: “The residents of Stisted believe that the A120 option A provides no ‘network resilience’ and if chosen, provides no alternative route if an accident closes the road.

“If this happens, traffic will be diverted through local villages.

“If the A120 option A were selected it would cut right through Stisted village, splitting the parish into three parts and dividing the community.”

Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council, said: “The A120 Braintree to A12 consultation is one of the most in-depth consultations we have ever run with local engagement from day one.

“The event locations were finalised following discussions with community forum members in September 2016 and we were pleased by the attendance of Stisted residents at the Bradwell event.”

A consultation run by Essex County Council is currently looking into five possible route options for the new dualled A120, with a preferred option likely to be selected by the autumn.

Visit www.a120essex.co.uk.