THE public could be barred from decision-making meetings about Essex roads.

Local highways panels are given £8million by Essex County Council to spend on improvement schemes as they see fit.

But new guidelines state the public can only attend meetings if permission is given by County Hall’s councillor for highways, Rodney Bass.

Under the regulations, the press and public would not be allowed to attend and parish councillors would no longer be allowed as members.

James Abbott, leader of the Green Party group on the county council, said: “There are no less than 63 pages of wisdom, directing in huge detail what these local panels can and cannot do.

“Councillor Bass could have made the whole thing a lot simpler by just telling us: ‘You are not going to do anything unless I say so’.”

A county council highways liaison officer said: “A new members’ guide was introduced this month to ensure a consistent approach to the operation of all local highways panels. The guide clarified that local highways panels are non-decision-making meetings held between county and borough/district/city members and are, therefore, not public meetings, unless otherwise agreed by the cabinet member.

“However, the council continues to be an open and transparent authority and this is why all the minutes, decisions and actions of panel meetings are available on the local highways panel website.

“Specialist support, including parish council representatives, can be invited to attend to discuss a specific scheme with the agreement of the panel chairman.”