PARISH councillors are to look at moving a Grade II listed horse trough from its position outside St Andrew's Church in Heybridge as it has been repeatedly hit by vehicles.

The granite trough, positioned close to the gate of the church in The Street and next to a bus stop, has already suffered repeated damage - including the loss of one of its built-in bollards some time ago. The latest discussions have come about as the trough was recently hit again, causing it to be temporarily displaced.

The structure's listing on the Historic England website describes it as follows: "Horse trough. 1909. Granite. Long rectangular horse trough with rounded ends, chamfered soffit and two supporting stone blocks. Half-cylindrical bollards of granite on side next to carriageway. Inscribed on south-east end: 'MISS LEO THOMAS 1909' and on south-west face: 'Metropolitan DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION'."

A meeting of Heybridge Parish Council's Environment and Facilities Committee on Wednesday (11 August) debated what action should be taken to protect the historic monument - and to avoid the need to repeatedly position the trough back into place after vehicles have collided with it.

Chair of the meeting, Councillor Miriam Lewis, said the missing bollard had been taken to an Essex County Council depot some years ago, but that no-one now knew the whereabouts of it.

The meeting also heard that St Andrew's Church had previously urged that the trough should not be moved.

Cllr Lewis added: "A bollard either side of the trough would help to solve the problem, but that is not likely to happen."

The committee members resolved that on their next "beating of the bounds" on 25 August - an exercise where parish councillors walk the area of the parish in stages to look for and at any obvious issues - they will assess the area called 'Seat in the Square' to consider starting new talks on repositioning it there. The proposed area is also pictured above.