All of the roads and footpaths in the parish of Wickham Bishops are the responsibility of Essex County Council’s highways department.
Wickham Bishops Parish Council does not have direct responsibility but can make recommendations to Essex County Council on behalf of the parish and based on the feedback of its residents
Essex County Council run a “Local Highways Panel” for each district – this is a committee made of up local county, district and parish councillors who consider requests for minor road schemes in the district. This is the primary route for minor road works to be requested and prioritised. Unfortunately there is a significant amount of competition for the limited funds available.
The Parish Council is continually exploring opportunities to reduce the speed of traffic through the village.
In the last few years we have successfully lobbied Essex County Council Highways to install speed warning signs and add painted 30 mph speed limit signs on the carriageway.
In 2018 the Parish Council was successful in having the 30mph speed limit extended from the church-end of Church Road to the junction with Mope Lane
In July 2019 white entrance gates were installed on Witham Road and Maypole Road which reinforce to drivers that they are entering a residential area.
Following their installation Essex County Council will conduct another speed survey to measure to see if there has been a reduction in average speeds through the village.
The next traffic calming measure that the Parish Council is lobbying for is to add “build outs” to the road which narrow the carriageway causing drivers to reduce their speed.
The Parish Council funds Maldon District Council Officers who use “Trucam” cameras to detect speeding drivers which results in fines, speed awareness courses and/or prosecution and points on licences for drivers who are caught.
This is further supported by the Parish Council-led “Speedwatch” scheme where volunteers are trained to use speed guns to detect speeding drivers. Drivers who are caught are sent warning letters and may be visited by the police.
Damage or maintenance issues to the highway should be reported to Essex County Council Highways via https://www.essexhighways.org/tell-us/report-all-issues.aspx
Any situations which are dangerous should be reported by phoning 0345 603 7631
Mini-roundabouts are limited to only three roads so unfortunately this junction does not meet the criteria for one
Again, we have asked for this but without success. Essex Highways have conducted surveys which show that the number of pedestrians, the number of vehicles, the types of vehicles and the speed of the traffic together do not meet the criteria.
We have asked for this but the response is that the road is too narrow at this point to accommodate a central island. If we get the "build outs" (see above) at this point they would make crossing here easier
Unfortunately, the same answer applies to here as to the Mitre junction.
As with other requests, the criteria for fixed cameras are not met. Other parishes have bought and installed their own but they are very expensive and the parish would be required to maintain the camera.
As an alternative approach the Parish Council funds Maldon District Council Officers who use “Trucam” cameras to detect speeding drivers which results in fines, speed awareness courses and/or prosecution and points on licences for drivers who are caught.
These are the volunteer Community Speedwatch team. They are residents of the village who have been trained by Essex Police to use an authorised speed device. There are around 15 volunteers in the group and teams are usually out two or three times a week at various times and places for about an hour a time. Vehicles recorded by the teams exceeding the speed limit are reported to Essex Police and the registered keepers are sent letters asking them to remind drivers to adhere to the speed limit. Persistent offenders and very fast drivers can be visited by police. A note of Speedwatch activity including the number of vehicles recorded each month is placed on the parish council noticeboard beside One Stop each month. We’re always happy for more volunteers to join the team – contact info@wickhambishopsparishcouncil.org.
There are strict national criteria regarding speed limits and when they can be reduced to 20. Unfortunately the parish does not meet this criteria.
At the Parish Council’s request a speed survey was undertaken on Blue Mills Hill/Witham Road in 2017 and unfortunately the average speeds were not high enough to meet the criteria to have the limit reduced. Additionaly, a request for double while lines down the centre of the carriage way did not meet the relevant criteria and was denied. Essex County Highways are evaluating a request for additional signs to warn of the dangers on this road.
This junction is in Great Totham Parish. Great Totham Parish Council are exploring options to improve the safety of this junction with Essex County Council. Wickham Bishops Parish Council is supporting Great Totham in this respect.
Wickham Bishops Parish Council worked with the Braintree District Local Highways Panel to have the “Benton Hall” traffic lights (at the junction of Maldon Road and Blue Mills Hill) reconfigured to operate from 6am to 9pm every day. This change came into operation in January 2020 and was confirmed as permanent in May 2020. The staggering of the traffic caused by the traffic lights improves the flow of the traffic over the bridge by causing gaps in the traffic coming towards Wickham Bishops.
Great Totham Primary School is within Great Totham Parish. You can contact them at greattothamparishcouncil@btinternet.com
Unfortunately there is insufficient width of verge along the road from Mope Lane to enable a pavement to be installed.
We are pleased to report that after several years of the Parish Councillors pressing for this, a footpath was installed in 2023.
Highways has limited funds and despite the Parish Council urging them to be proactive and cut the weeds as part of a frequent and regular programme, will not act until the weeds have become a problem – which has to be reported to Highways via the Report-a-Problem link. The Parish Council reports the weeds 2 to 3 times each year, but residents are welcome to report the issue as soon as it becomes apparent