TENDRING’S county councillors have been branded “eunuchs” over temporary traffic lights “cutting off” Walton and Frinton.

Tempers flared at a council meeting last week, where deputy mayor Robert Bucke said traffic lights by the Martello development in Walton had “ruined the summer in Walton.”

Earlier this month, a ‘sinkhole’ in Thorpe, blocking off its high street, added to the chaos.

Frinton and Walton Town Councillors also argued congestion caused by traffic lights- with delays of up to an hour- also puts lives in danger if emergency services cannot arrive soon enough.

Tendring cabinet member Nick Turner told last week’s meeting he had been emailing Essex Highways demanding no temporary lights be erected east of Weeley over the summer.

“I am sick of this. We are trying to protect 9,500 dwellings, 19,000 people, the livelihoods of Walton and Frinton, the farmers,” he said.

“We should get these feather-bedded functionaries to work for us,” he continued.

Former mayor Terry Allen complained developers had erected lights on Halstead Road and elsewhere, holding up traffic, even when no workers were present. He wanted such use of lights at a minimum as part of the planning process.

Deputy mayor Robert Bucke said Essex Highways recently replaced bollards in Kirby Cross in the middle of the day.

“Far be it from getting Essex on our side, they are against us,” he said.

Mr Allen then said: “Essex County needs to get its act together. Eight county councillors in this area need to go up there en masse.”

“We have a load of eunuchs up there looking after us.”

Yesterday, Mr Turner said previous complaints against the county council had “never got anywhere.”

But he said he had “come to a good agreement” with officials this week, after presenting a “contact” a “strongly worded letter” from the town council about the problems caused by so many lights. Issues were “all done and dusted” and hopefully there will be fewer delays in future.

Mr Turner agreed with plans just released from the Local Government Association for utility firms and developers to be charged a daily rate for digging up roads. But he warned many utility firms use emergency powers for such work, even though delays can be reduced by them working at night.

Mr Bucke also backed the LGA proposals and agreed Tendring’s County Councillors were “eunuchs.” There was also “arrogance” at County Hall, in not responding to concerns in Tendring, but he hoped its new CEO would improve matters, he added.

Frinton and Walton’s county councillor Mick Page confirmed there are issues with developers erecting temporary lights, but he said they needed to have them for their projects. Most temporary lights were erected by utility firms and he has been “fighting them” over their use.

Mr Page accused town councillors of always criticising the county council, which is why he never goes to their meetings.