NEWLY-INSTALLED temporary traffic lights are causing delays in Witham due to a sinkhole issue.

This morning, July 22, four-way traffic lights were put up in Mill Lane.

As a result, traffic was building in the area during rush hour along Mill Lane, Guithavon Valley, and Guithavon Road.

The sinkhole was discovered on Sunday morning by residents, who said it appears to be hollow beneath and may get worse.

An incident support vehicle was spotted at the scene last night arranging cones around the mini roundabouts and across the sinkhole.

Cones- Cones and four-way traffic lights lead vehicles around the sinkhole, which sits on the mini-roundabout. Roadworks - Cones and four-way traffic lights lead vehicles around the sinkhole, which sits on the mini-roundabout (Image: Claudia Bradley)

Witham Northern councillor Ross Playle said on Facebook: “Please be aware that a small sinkhole has appeared on the Mill Lane and Guithavon Road mini-roundabout.

“These can escalate quite quickly and so I have notified Essex Highways emergency crew.

“I will also be speaking later with the Cabinet Member at ECC for Highways in the event that the road needs to be closed for repair.”

Works- The duration of the temporary traffic lights and potential works has yet to be decided. Works - The duration of the temporary traffic lights and potential works have yet to be decided (Image: Claudia Bradley)

The sinkhole comes as Powers Hall End, one of three river crossings in Witham, has already been closed for work with the diversion route taking more drivers along Mill Lane.

The added traffic flow is worsening congestion in the area.

Mr Playle continued: “UK Power Networks have had Chipping Hill/Powers Hall End shut sufficiently long.

“We cannot be in a position where two of our three river crossings are out of action.”

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “We sent out a crew yesterday evening (Sunday 21 July) to make the area safe. The only way we could do this without closing the road was to set up temporary four-way traffic lights.

“We suspect this is a utility issue and have passed this on to Anglian Water who are due to attend the site to investigate. We will know more once they have finished their investigation.”