SUMMARY OF ROAD ACCESS TO HENHAM AND ELSENHAM

A. West from Elsenham Station via New Road and Ugley Green to B1383 (old A11)

Subject to a 6’-6” width restriction. Includes seven sharp bends, some of which do not show up clearly on the map, especially near Ugley Green. The road starts on the wrong side of the level crossing from the proposed development, but it would be the only viable route to the north for existing Elsenham residents if the proposal to close vehicular access over the level crossing were to be implemented.

B. North from Elsenham Station via Old Mead Road to B1383 south of Newport

Narrow in places. Major hazard at the railway bridge, which is known locally as ‘TootingBridge’, since there is a single track only and a tight double bend. There is a 12’0” height restriction, and long vehicles find the double bend impossible to negotiate. The proposal to ‘solve’ this problem by installing traffic lights is dangerous and should be resisted. Drivers of large lorries sometimes come this way, find they cannot get through and are forced to stop and reverse; this would happen more frequently with drivers trying to take a short cut to the new housing estate. A severe accident is likely when local traffic, aware that the lights guarantee no oncoming traffic, goes through the bridge as quickly as possible.

C. North-east from Henham past the rugby ground to Debden Green

Country lane, of no value as a through route beyond Debden Green.

D. East from Elsenham via B1051 to Thaxted

Surely one of the twistiest roads with a ‘B’ classification. Thaxted does not give ready through access either to the north or to the east. However, it is possible to turn right in Thaxted, head south and go through Dunmow on the B184 and then pick up the B1256 (old A120) to the new A120 and head west to M11 junction 8, a round trip of about twenty-five miles. This would be the only route available for construction traffic should a second runway be built at StanstedAirport (see note at end of F. below).

E. South-east from Elsenham Cross via Hall Road, skirting the Airport boundary to Cooper’s End, then turn into the Airport and take the dual carriageway to M11 junction 8

Airport roads are unavailable other than for airport purposes, as confirmed when Elsenham quarry traffic applied to use this route. The Coopers End access to Airport roads was closed by the Airport authority for an extended period some years ago, and there can be no doubt that they could close it again. The weight limit is 7.5 tonnes.

F. South-east from Elsenham Cross via Hall Road, skirting the Airport boundary to Cooper’s End, and then continue to Takeley. Turn right at the lights and follow the B1256 (old A120) to M11 junction 8

Clearly this route would involve a great increase in traffic through Takeley. Long queues form at the Takeley traffic lights during peak periods. The new A120 is of no value since there is no access to it here. This is the anticipated preferred route for access by contractors’ vehicles, but both routes E. and F. will be unavailable if plans to expand the Airport go ahead, since Hall Road will no longer exist as a through route.

G. Stansted Road, Elsenham, to Stansted via Grove Hill and Lower Street. Turn left at the end of Lower Street and out of Stansted via Church Road past MountfitchetSchool and over the M11. Turn right and continue via Bury Lodge Lane to M11 junction 8

The route into Stansted presents peculiar difficulties:

1)Grove Hill. There is a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes coming up the hill towards Elsenham.

2)Grove Hill. Difficult bend above the hill where large vehicles have problems passing each other.

3)Grove Hill. Residents, and others, park outside the houses, and further up the hill, legally, restricting the road to one way only, over a distance of at least 50 yards and sometimes as much as 80 yards, or even more. Drivers approaching the traffic lights from Elsenham have to estimate whether there is enough space to wait at the lights, so as not to block the road to traffic travelling up the hill. Jams often result.

4)Grove Hill. Traffic lights, to control narrow section on the bend. Creates queues in both directions.

5)Grove Hill, junction with Lower Street. Awkward junction for traffic coming down the hill and wanting to turn sharp right.

6)Lower Street shops. Permitted parking on both sides restricts the width such that cars have difficulty passing at the narrowest point; anything larger than a car creates great difficulties. Parking is often found beyond the permitted limits.

7)Lower Street, junction with Church Road / Station Road / Chapel Hill. Awkward five-way staggered junction, with access to the road towards MountfitchetCastle making for extra difficulties. Traffic from Elsenham must give way.

Bury Lodge Lane runs within the Airport boundary.

H. Stansted Road, Elsenham, to Stansted via Grove Hill and Lower Street. Turn right at the end of Lower Street and continue up Chapel Hill to the junction with B1383 (old A11), and turn left towards Bishop’s Stortford and M11 junction 8.

Points 1) to 7) under G. above apply. Turning right at the end of Lower Street is obviously more difficult than turning left. Further obstacles then present themselves:

8)Pedestrian crossing outside the King’s Arms. Very close to the Lower Street junction.

9)Two shops, a mini-market with post office and a newsagents, at the bottom of Chapel Hill. Delivery lorries unload here and car drivers often park on the double yellow lines for short periods. Visibility past parked vehicles is very limited.

10)Chapel Hill. An extended bottle-neck. Residents park on one side, legally, over a continuous distance of about 120 yards. The consequent restricted width is just sufficient in places for two cars to pass each other, but not if either driver is timid. For a 4X4 or anything larger, one-way traffic is necessary. The length of the obstruction makes for acute problems in estimating whether it is sensible to proceed or not.

11)Top of Chapel Hill. More permitted parking, restricting the effective width of the road.

12)Top of Chapel Hill. Pedestrian crossing. Not a significant problem.

13)Turn left at junction with B1383 (old A11). Considerable delays here at peak times.

Points 1) to 13) above constitute a unique series of obstacles, and are contained within a length of about half a mile.