THE £300million regeneration of the Queensway estate will cause “chaos” by transforming the way traffic flows through the town centre, it is feared.

Plans are underway to rebuild the troubled estate in the heart of Southend, with crumbling tower blocks making way for a modern, low-rise buildings.

In order to maximise space for homes, Southend Council plans to get rid of Porters roundabout - which currently links both ends of Southchurch Road and gives access to the seafront and Victoria Avenue.

The Queensway underpass, which is currently a dual carriageway, will be turned into a single carriageway carrying traffic to and from the seafront area.

Traffic coming off Victoria Avenue to Southchurch Road will be redirected down Chichester Road - which is set to be widened to take the increase in traffic heading to the eastern parts of town and on towards Shoebury.

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for Thorpe ward, was responsible for transport in the town under the previous administration. He believes the reconfiguration will create a pinch point in Chichester Road and Southchurch Road - which will cause traffic “chaos” in the town centre.

He said: “To get to Porters, coming down Victoria Avenue, you will have to turn left around the Victoria junction and all those traffic lights and turn right into Chichester Road and left onto Southchurch Road.

“Chichester Road is a small road which will not cope. It will cause congestion and people will have to go through six sets of traffic lights. It will be chaos. I support the Better Queensway project but won’t support this highways plan and have referred it back to cabinet.”

The plans also include blocking off access to the High Street from Warrior Square.

Mr Terry added: “I would have looked at changing the Victoria Gateway area. It looks pretty but it doesn’t work. Rather than shoving it all down Chichester Road, traffic could go straight from Victoria Gateway and through the Deeping underpass.

“The plan will also prevent traffic getting into the High Street. They are trying to keep cars out of the centre of town.”

Mark Flewitt, councillor responsible for housing, said: “We have pinch points all over the place and more traffic than most people would like but we have to cope with if for commercial and residential purposes.

“Opening up the Deeping has very special problems and would cause delays to the Queensway project. In addition highways cost might have to be met by us but we listen carefully to what councillors say and full council.”