Clacton resident calls for action over 'dangerous junction'

Peter Roderop, 66, had lived relatively happily in his current property in London Road, Clacton, since 1992 – that was until the completion of the nearby Brook Retail Park.

The retired police officer says developers at the time made several promises to homeowners including one to install a roundabout to help traffic flow.

Mr Roderop also claims he was told heavy goods vehicles over a certain weight would not be permitted to travel on his road in order to access the likes of Tesco.

The campaigning resident, however, says lorry restrictions have not been upheld and, instead of a roundabout, a junction was put in place right outside his house.

As a result, Mr Roderop says the area has become an accident blackspot with “boy racers” who congregate in the Curry’s carpark using it as part of a “racetrack”.

More recently a driver passing the junction narrowly missed his wife as she crossed the road with their dog before rolling the car and crashing.

Mr Roderop said: “Luckily the driver hit an island in the road and bounced off it but if there had been cars at the junction there would have been fatalities.

“I am not a killjoy and kids have to be kids, but boy racers are using it as a race circuit and come screaming out of the junction and fly down the road.

“There has been at least five serious crashes here and I think there needs to be a roundabout installed, that would solve the problem because it is becoming a joke.”

In addition to dangerous drivers, Mr Roderop has also been left incensed by the volume of lorries using London Road, some of which park outside his house.

He says their rumbling presence has damaged the road and weakened the structure of his house, and often keeps him up throughout the night.

Mr Roderop believes this problem could too be solved by a roundabout as the large vehicles would have no choice but to use the bypass to access the retail park.

“They have definitely gone back on their word and if something is not done about it my intention is to sue Essex County Council for negligence,” he added.

“This junction and road has been an issue ever since the Brook Retail Park was put here and it just seems like nobody is listening.

“If something is not done soon there will be fatalities.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways advised Mr Roderop to contact his local councillor.

“The best way to take this situation forward is to raise the issue with your local Essex County Councillor who can then raise the issue at the next Local Highways Panel meeting.”