Road crossings latest part of plans to encourage safer, greener and healthier travel in Basildon

Residents and businesses in Basildon are being reminded to have their say on a proposed pedestrian and cyclist crossing scheme which would reduce people’s exposure to roadside pollution and complement wider initiatives to improve air quality in the area.

The proposals involve relocating shared crossings in East Mayne away from the central reservation, where roadside air quality has been identified as exceeding legal limits for nitrogen dioxide – a harmful gas caused by vehicle emissions.

Essex County Council and Basildon Borough Council have selected the scheme as a preferred option, having previously been directed by Government to assess the likely effectiveness of a charging clean air zone, which would have seen drivers of certain more polluting vehicles charged for driving within a designated zone.

Both councils strongly oppose the idea and are now proposing the crossing scheme, which would bring air quality to within legal levels in 2022.

In addition to the project, a number of other separate initiatives have been developed and will help encourage a general shift to cleaner travel and improve air quality throughout Basildon. These include:

• A new 50mph speed limit on a stretch of the A127 to reduce vehicle emissions
• The installation of new electric vehicle charging points across the borough, including some specifically for taxis and private hire vehicles
• Cycle route improvements, notably along Upper Mayne and Cranes Farm Road
• Funding for bus operators to reduce emissions from buses using the A127 corridor
• A collection of sustainable transport measures as part of the Basildon Integrated Transport Package, including cycling and bus improvements.

An e-scooter trial is also planned to launch in Basildon shortly and Government funding has been secured from the Emergency Active Travel Fund for the first part of a long-term plan to create an improved cycle link between Wickford and Basildon, which will eventually enhance the whole cycle and walking network across the Basildon borough.

To access the Basildon Air Quality Survey and find out more about the proposals for East Mayne and other related projects, please visit essex.gov.uk/airquality.

The survey closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, 13 December.