New safer, greener, healthier 20mph speed limits for busy Billericay and Wickford shopping areas introduced from 22nd June

Some new interim, signed 20mph speed limits on roads in busy shopping areas of Wickford and Billericay are being put in place starting from Monday 22nd June.

In Billericay a 20mph zone will extend along the B1007 (High Street), from its junction with Sun Street/A129 London Road, northwards to its junction with Norsey Road/Western Road.

In Wickford, a 20mph zone will extend along the High Street, from its junction with A129 London Road, northwards to its junction with the Wickford Station access road.

Adding to the other public safety measures being introduced, these speed limits as being put in place as part of the continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a ‘Safer, Greener, Healthier’ environment for shoppers and other pedestrians and cyclists.

The new lower speed limits aim to encourage people to support their local businesses by increasing pedestrian and cyclist confidence when having to avoid other people, particularly where traffic is passing.

The measures will be monitored to assess their effectiveness and may be tweaked or amended as part of the ‘test and learn’ approach Essex County Council are using across all the Safer, Greener, Healthier measures being introduced to many towns across the county.

The project is funded by part of the initial £1.9m Emergency Active Travel Fund for Essex announced by the Government for such schemes.

“While I recognise many people will still need to use their cars, this is a chance for all to think hard about driving for short journeys." ~ Cllr Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council

The Billericay and Wickford schemes, like others being introduced across the county, are driven by immediate public health requirements such as social distancing, but in encouraging walking and cycling, it will enable healthier, more sustainable ways of getting around locally.

Dr Mike Gogarty, Director of Public Health at Essex County Council, explained: “Providing a good environment for the public to practice safe social distancing remains a core part of the measures we need to limit the spread of coronavirus. Helping people to social distance in traditionally busy urban areas will help immediate public safety; it will also make it easier as businesses resume trading.

“Walking and cycling are healthy activities in their own right, they can help to lessen traffic congestion and consequently improve air quality, so these new measures are very supportive of societal demand.”

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “Safety is the reason why we are introducing a 20pmh speed restriction on Billericay and Wickford High Streets.

“We want to keep people safe from COVID-19 infection while they visit the shops and businesses on Billericay and Wickford High Streets and this is how we are going to do it.

“While I recognise many people will still need to use their cars, this is a chance for all to think hard about driving for short journeys. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to greatly improve our air quality and our health as well as the life opportunities for the next generation.

“Billericay and Wickford are among the first towns in Essex to get such schemes, we’re using this money to help people confidently return to shop and work, as lockdown measures continue to be carefully eased.”

"If this will help the residents to feel safe from traffic whilst maintaining social distance on the High Street, whilst also promoting health and wellbeing more generally, then all the better." ~ Cllr Andrew Baggott, Leader of Basildon Conservatives

Cllr Andrew Baggott, Leader of Basildon Conservatives and a Billericay councillor, said: "These are trying times and we are all adjusting to the 'new normal' and we welcome anything that seeks to support our high street businesses and retailers get back on their feet. If this will help the residents to feel safe from traffic whilst maintaining social distance on the High Street, whilst also promoting health and wellbeing more generally, then all the better."  

The total money that could be made available to Essex by the Government if further plans are approved is up to £9.6m.

Do you have a view on these measures or any comments on their operation? Then please email SGH.Routes@essex.gov.uk and tell us about your experiences. It is important we get this right and all views and opinions are welcome.

To find out more about Essex County Council's 'Safer, Greener, Healthier' initiative, visit Essex Highways’ website at: www.essex.gov.uk/safer-greener-healthier