If elected as your Essex County Councillor, I will focus on fixing the basics of getting around Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington.
Across Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington (BAGBEMT), residents raise the same issues again and again when it comes to getting around.
- Potholes that take months to fix.
- Pavements that are uneven or blocked.
- Junctions that feel unsafe.
- Bus services that no longer connect communities properly.
These are not complicated problems. They are the basics of everyday life, and they should work properly.
If elected as your Essex County Councillor, one of my top priorities will be to fix the basics of local transport across BAGBEMT so people can move around their communities safely and easily.
This page summarises the approach I will take, and you can download the full policy paper at the bottom of this page.
This plan is part of my wider campaign to Fix the Basics across our area.
Why this matters
Transport affects almost every part of daily life.
It determines how easily people can get to work, school, shops, healthcare and social activities. It affects safety on our streets and the strength of our local economy.
Our area has a very specific geography.
Brightlingsea is a single access settlement connected by one main road, and nearby villages such as Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington rely on the same poorly maintained network to access services and employment.
When the system works poorly, everyone feels the impact.
Residents describe the situation clearly.
“You cannot walk along some pavements safely with a pushchair or wheelchair.”
“The buses do not connect villages properly anymore.”
“The potholes get patched but the road keeps breaking up.”
“It should be easier to walk and cycle between villages.”
These are practical issues that require practical leadership and someone who is not afraid to hold authority to account.
A BAGBEMT Getting Around Taskforce
Local people often know exactly where the problems are. This group would help make sure issues are properly reported and followed up so repairs actually happen.
One of the things residents often say is that problems are reported but it is not always clear what happens next.
If elected, I want to set up a BAGBEMT Getting Around Taskforce, a volunteer group of local residents and local councils representatives who care about improving roads, pavements and transport across Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington.
The purpose would be simple: to help identify issues, track progress and keep pressure on the system so that problems actually get fixed.
The group could include residents with an interest in
• road safety
• cycling and walking
• public transport
• accessibility
• village connectivity
The taskforce would help by
• identifying recurring issues such as potholes, drainage problems and damaged pavements
• sharing local knowledge about dangerous junctions or problem areas
• monitoring whether reported repairs are actually completed
• helping prioritise issues across the BAGBEMT area
• providing practical feedback on transport proposals
This would not replace the role of Essex County Council highways teams, or the great work that our town and parish councils do, but it would ensure that local knowledge and local accountability are built into how problems are identified and followed up.
Many of the best improvements in communities start with residents working together to solve practical problems.
A BAGBEMT taskforce could help make sure that issues affecting everyday journeys are seen, reported and addressed.
My priorities if elected
If elected as County Councillor for the area, I will focus on five priorities.
1. Fix the basics on roads and pavements
The condition of roads and pavements is the issue residents raise most often.
I will push for a stronger focus on preventative maintenance and proper resurfacing, rather than repeated patch repairs that fail after a short time.
This includes
• tackling persistent pothole problems
• improving pavement maintenance
• addressing drainage issues that damage roads
• ensuring reported defects are acted on more quickly
This will be partly achieved by me setting up a task force of local volunteers who want to make getting around the area better and safer.
2. Improve junction safety
Several junctions across Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington require attention.
I will use technology and work with Essex County Council highways teams to review safety and traffic flow at key locations and identify improvements such as
• improved visibility
• clearer road markings and signage
• safety improvements where accidents occur
• changes to improve traffic flow
Small changes at the right locations can significantly improve safety.
3. Make buses more useful for local residents
Public transport remains essential for many residents, especially young people and older residents.
However, despite recent positive improvements, services sometimes do not connect villages effectively.
I will work to improve
• village to town connections
• links between BAGBEMT communities
• connections to rail services at Great Bentley
• clearer and more reliable timetables
Better bus connectivity supports independence and reduces unnecessary car journeys.
4. Deliver the Sunshine Coast Greenway
The Sunshine Coast Greenway is one of the most exciting long term opportunities for our area.
This project would create a safe walking and cycling route linking communities across BAGBEMT while improving access to the countryside.
If elected I will work with councils, landowners and funding bodies to move this project forward.
Greenways elsewhere have delivered major benefits including
• healthier lifestyles
• tourism growth
• stronger local economies
• better access to nature
For Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington, the Greenway could become a defining piece of local infrastructure.
You can support the Greenway project here.
5. Improve accountability
Residents often feel decisions about roads and transport are made far away with little transparency.
If elected I will work to improve accountability by
• sharing regular updates on planned works
• making it clearer how residents report problems
• pushing for transparent reporting on repairs and improvements
• ensuring local priorities are properly represented at county level
Residents should be able to see clearly what is happening and when.
Questions Voters May Wish to Ask
When engaging with any candidate, it is reasonable to ask:
- What will you do to improve the condition of roads and pavements in our area?
- Which junctions in our area do you believe need safety improvements?
- What will you do to improve bus services connecting our villages?
- Do you support projects such as the Sunshine Coast Greenway?
- How will you ensure Essex County Council actually delivers improvements locally?
- Have you come up with a plan on how to do any of this?
What success would look like
Success across BAGBEMT would mean
• roads that are properly maintained
• pavements that are safe and accessible
• junctions that feel safer to use
• buses that connect villages more effectively
• progress on the Sunshine Coast Greenway
• residents who feel their concerns are being heard
These are realistic improvements that would make everyday life easier for people across Brightlingsea, Alresford, Great Bentley, Elmstead Market and Thorrington.
Read the full plan
The full document sets out the evidence, resident feedback and proposals in detail: