Six weeks of road closures on a popular route into Maldon has commenced today (July 25), as work continues on the Westcombe Park development in Heybridge.

Residents have been warned of disruption due to the temporary closures, covering Langford Road, Maypole Road, and Holloway Road. Those heading to Maldon from Wickham Bishops and other nearby villages will be affected.

The closures will be in place until Sunday 4 September.

Essex Highways have confirmed the hours of operation, which will be from 7.30am until 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Contractors are required to apply separately if they need to work on Sundays.

The works are being carried out to provide gas, electricity and water to the new Westcombe Park residential development being built nearby. As this requires open excavations, temporary road closures will be in place.

A section of Maypole Road is now closed to all vehicles until early September.

Heybridge resident Don Benson told Nub News: "What a shambles we have facing us - totally unnecessary.

"With the correct assessment and projections, this work could have been carried out to suit all, by installing the required pipe works on the land of the developers."

"What a shambles we have facing us - totally unnecessary." Don Benson, Heybridge

Developer Countryside Partnerships will carry out works to alter the junction to the development under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980.

Essex and Suffolk Water will be on-site tomorrow (July 26) to complete a new, permanent connection onto the existing water main.

Another closure is in place on Holloway Road for approximately 43 metres, up to the first bus stop.

Gavin Hawes, Operations Manager at TriConnex, told Nub News a contractor will also complete trench works to take the new water, gas, and electricity mains into the site tomorrow.

He said: "Everything is in place exactly as advertised, and as per our meetings with the local planning authority, there will be no deviation from the plan."

Despite the road closures, residents will still be able to get in and out of their homes throughout the day, as they will mostly affect the area surrounding the mini roundabout.

No access will be possible to Crescent Road from the B1018 Langford Road/Heybridge Approach Roundabout.

Residents with queries regarding the works have been asked to contact Mr Hawes at TriConnex's Head Office on 01376 332680.

If you are a resident of any of the affected roads, please get in touch to share your views on the closures.