CONCERNS over a vital railway crossing where motorists face long delays will be raised to the Secretary of State for Transport by the leader of Tendring Council.

Council leader Neil Stock is writing to Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport, calling for faster improvements to Manningtree rail crossing.

Drivers can face long delays when the level crossing is closed, with an alternative height and width-restricted underpass not able to cope with demand.

The road is busy not only with local traffic, but also provides a key link between Essex and Suffolk and is a resilience route if there are closures on the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich.

Despite organising meetings with representatives from Network Rail, Greater Anglia, Essex County Council, and local MPs, Mr Stock said progress has been too slow at Tendring Council's cabinet meeting on Friday, October 12.

He said he would be writing to the transport minister to request that he looks at the issue.

“Before I send off the letter I will be speaking to our officers to see what specific asks I can make of the Secretary of State, as we need action and not just bland support from Government on this,” Mr Stock said.

“We have made strenuous efforts in an effort to get some short-term improvements made now whilst working towards a longer-term solution that will solve the problem once and for all.

"But even getting a simple traffic light system installed to control the traffic flow under the rail line has so far failed to materialise and I find that failure of action to be totally unacceptable.

"Trying to make meaningful progress on this issue has not been helped by the failure of the rail industry to take their responsibilities seriously and to engage with us.

"I propose therefore to write to the Transport Secretary and ask him personally to look at this issue as a matter of urgency.

"I shall also set up a meeting to which I shall invite the chief executives of Network Rail and Greater Anglia, the leaders of Essex and Suffolk county councils, the MPs for that area as well as other key stakeholders and partners to attempt to thrash out a solution to this problem."