Essex Council Cracks Down on Unauthorised Utility Works Causing Traffic Chaos

Council officers in Essex have stepped in to halt unauthorised utility works that caused major congestion in Thorpe-le-Soken.

Essex Highways discovered that a sub-contractor carrying out repairs on behalf of Openreach was operating without an approved permit, a spokesperson confirmed. The works near the war memorial coincided with a planned closure on Walton Road, leading to severe traffic delays.

Openreach was instructed to leave the site immediately and will face a fine due to the unapproved permit.

Mark Platt, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said:"As the new highways cabinet member, I will not tolerate rule-breaking. Utility companies must obtain the correct permits before starting work to keep Essex moving and minimise disruption for residents and businesses."

Deputy cabinet member Councillor Daniel Land added:"Cracking down on unauthorised works is essential. Local residents have already faced unnecessary delays, and we hope this sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated."

Openreach apologised to the local community, stating:"We are reviewing our recent work in Thorpe-le-Soken following the council’s report. We always aim to minimise disruption while maintaining and upgrading the UK’s largest broadband network, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused in this instance."

Essex Highways said it continues to work closely with utility companies to reduce disruption and maintain safe, efficient travel across the county.