Ford End speeders could be caught by new speed camera …

Councillors want money for an average speed camera in Ford End between Chelmsford and Dunmow – one of the busiest routes out of the city towards Stansted and beyond to the M11.

A motion in May saw Great Waltham Parish Council, which has Ford End in its area, agree to seek to secure a loan of around £50,000.

It is hoped the funds will cover half of the cost of an average speed camera on the B1008 through Ford End.

Essex County Council would be expected to contribute about £60,000 and a request has been made to the local highways panel (LHP) for funding.

The parish council, which operates a speed watch in the village, says speeds of up to 53mph through Ford End have been recorded, and “the overwhelming majority of vehicles appear to ignore the speed limits”.

Ford End has been told the DfT would not help fund a speed camera because of its status as a priority one route and the amount of traffic.

That could be reviewed when the Chelmsford Northeast bypass is completed.

Essex County Council highways boss Lee Scott told the parish council in April: “In terms of any LHP match funding I believe it was always the case that the panel were waiting on Great Waltham Parish Council to arrange their part of the funding.

“The panel has to date not been informed that Great Waltham Parish Council has their match funding contribution available.”

A 40mph limit was introduced either side of the 30mph limit stretch in 2019 but persistent speeding as well as problems of heavy lorries and vehicles using the road as a preferred short cut between the A12 and Chelmsford and the M11 and Stansted Airport has led to ongoing problems.

Great Waltham Parish Council chairman Steve Gilbert said: “There are 40mph buffer zones at both ends of the village and a 30mph statutory through the village.

“But the last recordings I saw had a lot of drivers going through in excess of the mandatory speed limit.”