A MAJOR new road into Southend is needed to allow the town to attract investment and thrive in the future, it has been claimed.

Leading councillor Ron Woodley (pictured right) insisted a new road was necessary as he branded £5million works to the A127’s Bell junction as a “short-term fix”.

The Echo revealed the final design online on Monday, which were met with mixed reaction from residents.

Many acknowledged the work is a must and will have a positive impact on traffic in the area, but concerns centred on the work only bringing minor improvements.

And speaking to the Echo, Mr Woodley, cabinet member for transport, admitted he echoed those sentiments.

And he is now piling on the pressure on south Essex MPs to “secure vital funding for a new road, and repay the faith the residents in the area have shown in the Conservative Government”.

Southend resident, Clare Joyce, 56, said: “Obviously any improvements that are made are a good thing, and the plans do look good.

“I am a big fan of a dedicated left turn lane leading to Rochford Road, it is clear that will help.

“But this isn’t going to fix the whole of the A127 is it? We have issues the length of the road, and a lot of work has been done, but we need something major to happen to make significant long-term improvements.”

Mr Woodley sees that significant long-term improvement coming in the form of a new road providing access into Southend.

He sees the long-term goal as having a new road that links from the A130 and A12 junction and into Southend, mitigating the already congested A127 and A13.

Mr Woodley said: “We need major investment in our road infrastructure, far beyond the improvements we are making now.

“We are not hiding it, I have said it, residents know it, this is a short term fix.

“If we want to resolve the long running issue of access into Southend, and infrastructure across south Essex, we need the funding to build a new road.

“We are building thousands of homes, and with that comes thousands of cars. We need the infrastructure so people can get to work in Southend or commute out of the area.

“Both the A127 and the A13 are the best part of 100 years old. We need a new way to get across south Essex.”

And Mr Woodley insisted the positives of a new road would “almost be endless” including huge benefits to current residents, future residents, and bring investment to the town.

He added: “Initially, again short term, we could look at a bypass to Tesco on the A127, but we need a road that links with the A12 and A130 and then comes down to Southend.

“A new road would give us a direct link to the north of the county and country. It will bring a huge amount of positives, namely increased investment in Southend.”