Road Scheme Update

This is an update on the road scheme at the southern end of the village which we brought to your attention in this month's Birchanger Village Magazine.

There has been quite a lot of comment about exactly what the scheme entails. In summary, it is:

  • The roundabout at the end of Birchanger Lane will be removed
  • It will be replaced with a staggered traffic-light controlled junction
  • All current traffic flows will be supported EXCEPT that traffic leaving the village will be forced to turn left onto the motorway roundabout
  • There will be provision for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the junction safely

These plans have been submitted to Uttlesford District Council by Essex County Council. Essex have not asked for permission to do this work; they are seeking a Certificate of Lawful Development; that is a statement that they can do it anyway without any further permission. This is because there are planning exemptions for some statutory undertakings such as highways and Essex are considering this work as forming part of improvements to junction 8 of the M11.

Uttlesford has to treat this application on its merits, and Government rules say that an application for a Certificate of Lawful Development must not consider objections made on planning grounds. Essex's application is analogous to a neighbour wishing to build a small extension to their house. So long as it falls within certain limits they can do so without anyone's permission, but they would be wise to seek one of these certificates from the planning authority. If your neighbour went through this process then you would not be asked to comment. All that's being asked is 'can I do this anyway?'.

We object strongly to these proposals on two main grounds: the first is the general inconvenience caused to motorists, and in particular those needing to visit Bishop's Stortford for work, leisure, the schools, the hospital and the station. Our second objection is because of the implications for our bus service. Service 7/7a is a real thorn in the side of Essex Public Transport. The timetable is very hard to work punctually. There's congestion in Bishop's Stortford and Stansted; frequent temporary traffic lights; a busy level crossing at Elsenham and long stretches of road which, in a bus, must be treated as single lane. We understand that an increase in operating costs of just 2p per passenger will make the route too expensive for Essex County Council to support. If these works take place as planned, we will lose our buses.

We have written to Uttlesford asking that the certificate is not granted. If it is refused then Essex must make a formal planning application, then we will be able to have our say.

We have also written to our MP, Kemi Badenoch, stating our concern that there doesn't seem to be any way we can formally comment on proposals by statutory bodies such as this. Unfortunately her reply was that this is a planning matter, so we should take it up with our Uttlesford district councillor. We will try again.

We are, through Ray Gooding, trying to find out why plans which were drawn up in May were not brought to our attention sooner.

The plans can be seen on the Uttlesford planning portal as UTT/18/1823/CLP. If you really have time on your hands then the new additions to the application for permission to handle more passengers at Stansted has very detailed traffic modelling data. That application is UTT/18/0460/FUL and the relevant document was posted on 19th July and is called Additional Consultation Response and Clarification - Whole document. The junction is described on pages 280 - 732 (yes, 452 pages).

We'll update you if there are further developments.

Last updated: 17:00 on 02/08/2018