Residential road to close for trial to help stop ‘rat running’
Residents are invited to share their feedback on the scheme during a six-month consultation.
A residential road in Harlow is set to close as part of a trial scheme to help tackle ‘rat running’.
For a number of years residents have raised concerns about Old Road in Harlow being used as a shortcut between Cambridge Road and Gilden Way.
Having considered various options to address the issue and encourage drivers to use more appropriate routes, Essex County Council is trialing an experimental closure of Old Road.
The closure, which will come into effect from Monday 19 October 2026, will be in place between the junctions with Hart Road and The Hoo.
Vehicle access to all properties will be maintained but from one direction only. Access will remain in both directions for people walking and cycling.
The trial closure is for a maximum period of up to 18 months. Once in place, a statutory six-month consultation period will open, allowing residents to comment as part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) process.
An ETRO is a legal order allowing local authorities to trial new traffic or parking restrictions before deciding whether to make them permanent.
While representations can only be made during the first six months of the closure being in place, the closure itself and monitoring of the scheme may continue for up to 18 months.
Councillor Mark Webster, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “Residents and local councillors have called for action to tackle rat running in this part of Old Harlow for a number of years.
“Old Road is a residential street and not an appropriate route for longer distance through-traffic.
“The experimental closure will stop drivers from using Old Road as a shortcut and aims to make it a quieter, safer and more pleasant place for residents.
“We recognise there may be divided opinions about the closure and we are keen to hear views from both sides.
“The trial will provide an opportunity for residents to share their views and for us to consider the evidence before we make a decision about whether to make the closure permanent.”
A final decision on whether to make the closure permanent is expected to be made by next summer and no later than Spring 2028.
For more information about the experimental closure and how to comment, please visit www.essexhighways.org/old-road