Stock Parish Council discussed a range of issues with villagers at its March monthly meeting, with road safety and parking again high on the list of priorities.
Following the results of the Parish Council’s January 2024 Road Safety Survey, councillors voted unanimously to apply for a 20mph speed limit and average speed cameras to be installed on the B1007 running through the village.
Due to the B1007’s status as a County Priority Route 1 (PR1), the Parish Council and other stakeholders will need to consult with the Essex Highways Traffic Manager and approval given by the Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways for a 20mph limit to be imposed.
Local Highways Panel (LHP) Applications have been made for the installation of average speed cameras, a 20mph Speed Zone and the replacement of the Zebra crossing outside Budgen’s with a Pelican crossing – for which a pedestrian and vehicle count will take place – as well as a number of other changes to improve road safety.
On Saturday 16 March, a ‘Stock Against Speeding’ campaign event was also held in the village centre, and volunteer Community Speed Watch teams regularly patrol and detect speeding vehicles, showing the strength of feeling on the issue.
The Parish Council will inform villagers of developments in upcoming monthly meetings and on its website and social media channels.
Elsewhere, the Parish Council has carried out repairs and logged the issues of flooding and potholes in Smallgains Lane with Essex Highways and Essex Waterways, and it is hoped these will be solved in the near future.
The works to improve historic flooding issues and the car park on the Common and build up the roadside along Common Road are ongoing.
Positive discussions have taken place between the Parish Council, Stock Primary School and the South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) regarding parking at school drop-off and collection times, and will continue with a view to reducing illegal and inconsiderate parking and improving road safety.
The Parish Council is also in ongoing and positive discussion with SEPP over Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) which would see parking restrictions introduced at junctions in the village centre, following the Highway Code, which would be enforced on a regular basis.
Elsewhere, two new semi-automatic defibrillators have been installed by villager Liz Melleney, one at the Village Hall and one at Stock Heritage Centre.
The fingerpost at Swan Lane has been repainted and a new post fitted to the Village Sign, and repairs to the gravel surface outside the Almshouses in Stock Road are ongoing.
The Council is in consultation with All Saints’ Church regarding the entrance to the public car park, and is in discussions over refurbishing the bus shop opposite The Ship.
Looking further into the future, a Village Litter Pick and Sign Cleaning Day will be held on Saturday 13 April at 10am (meet at Stock Cricket Club), a Light the Beacon ceremony will be held on the Common to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on the evening of Thursday 6 June and the Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 30 November 2024.
If you have any ideas or comments, please email clerk@stock-pc.gov.uk
The Parish Council is committed to sharing information and updates as widely as possible with villagers and welcomes interest in the work being done to improve our village for everyone.
