Essex County Council is to fund new road units which will patrol and improve journey times on the A12, East Anglia’s main artery.
Although the A12 is operated by the Highways Agency, the council has provided funding for patrols which will clear and resolve accidents for 18 hours a day throughout the year.
The A12 recently experienced more than 800 accidents in one year and was voted Britain’s worst road in a drivers poll. In response, the county council established the UK’s first-ever public inquiry into the operation of a major road, using powers granted under the Local Government Act 2000.Among its conclusions, the inquiry recommended Essex took the responsibility of setting up traffic officers.
Due to be operational from 1 September, the new patrols are being funded by an initial start-up grant of £1.5M provided by Essex County Council and operated by the police.
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