Improvements to a key road in Jaywick Sands are set to be funded by Tendring District Council (TDC) after residents said fixing the street was their number one priority.

Subject to sign-off from Cabinet on Friday (20 March), TDC will commission emergency repairs to potholes in the unadopted area of Brooklands.

Additionally, the council is set to investigate making renovations to the road to ensure it remains in a usable condition for a longer period.

Over the last few months, engagement specialists public works, working alongside architects Adams and Sutherland, have been speaking to Jaywick Sands residents about improvements they want for open spaces in the village as part of a government-funded project being run by TDC.

There has been unanimous support for improvements to Brooklands, which is currently riddled with potholes due to the road’s insufficient drainage.

Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism said: “The state of Brooklands is a core issue that impacts people’s lives every day.

“As the road is unadopted and the landowner is unidentifiable, it is not the legal responsibility of TDC or Essex Highways to fix it, nor to take ongoing responsibility for its maintenance in the long term.

“However, with the government funding behind us earmarked for improvements to Jaywick Sands, this is an opportunity to act which we simply cannot pass up.

“Not only can we fill in the potholes soon, but we can also explore what can be done to ensure the road stays in decent condition for the next few years.

“Previously, bus companies have refused to use the road when it has reached this state and that has a massive impact on people living in the area.

“The community has told us this is their top priority, so taking this bold step is the right thing to do.”

TDC’s Cabinet will be asked to agree for Brooklands to be added to the scope of the open spaces project at their meeting on Friday, which would then allow the emergency repairs to be carried out.

The open spaces project includes a number of potential schemes for Jaywick Sands which have been shaped by the community engagement. A final decision on which projects to take forward and deliver will be made in the coming months.

Additional funding for this project would be reallocated from a proposal for a walking and cycling route at Tudor Fields which has been less popular with residents during the engagement process, subject to Cabinet approval.

For more information about TDC’s Community Regeneration Partnership with the Government visit https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/government-funded-projects

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