A ZEBRA crossing will be installed in Billericay, against the wishes of residents and town councillors.

Highways bosses from Essex County Council are going ahead with plans for the crossing in Greens Farm Lane, near the Prince Edward Street junction.

Work will start early next month, but mum-of-two Cariann Everard, 37, who lives in Greens Farm Lane, said the plan was a waste of money.

She said: “We don’t need this crossing. I can’t see why the county council wants to put it in.

“The only thing we can think of is it must have some money it needs to spend.”

The county council first put forward plans for the crossing at the Prince Edward Road junction, but following complaints the plan was to move it further down Greens Farm Road to the junction with Thynne Road.

However, highway chiefs have gone back to the original plans, and Mrs Everard said this was the lesser of two evils.

She added: “If we do have to have a crossing, then outside the shop at the junction of Prince Edward Road is best, so it can be used by school children.”

Billericay Town Council also said the crossing was not needed.

John Buchanan, head of planning at the town council, said: “A lot of people have been unhappy they weren’t consulted about the crossing.

“Others have said they don’t want a crossing at all.”

But Nicola Spicer, spokeswoman for the county council, said residents were consulted.

She said: “Essex County Council consults with local residents before installing new crossings.

“This particular consultation found there was considerable opposition to the alternative site suggested by the town council, so the decision was taken to install the crossing at the original site.”