QUEENSWAY bridge will be closed to pedestrians “within the next month” following two deaths and a petition launched by residents demanding action.

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Council, confirmed the bridge will be shut as a matter of urgency adding “given recent events we are keen to close it as soon as possible”.

A petition launched in the wake of Chris Nota’s death at Queensway, in July 2020, has been gaining traction following a man’s death there in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The underpass beneath the bridge is due to filled in as part of the Queensway regeneration project.

Mr Gilbert said: “We are already in the process of closing the bridge, we have already gone through the first stage of getting a stopping up order, so that is no longer a public right of way.

“It was always the intention with this bridge as part of the better Queensway project, so given the events, we are looking at whether they could be speeded up further.

“But it was always the intention as to whether we could get it closed within the next month or so in any case.”

A petition, that was started two years ago, for a cage to be built over the bridge has again recently picked up traction, with more residents pushing for this.

Rather than constructing a cage, a “stopping up order” has been requested to preventing the bridge being used as a footpath.

However, with the news that a “stopping up order”, meaning the highway land ceases to be a highway, road, or footpath will bring no need for the cage.

Mr Gilbert added the council is now keen to speed up the plan as much as possible.

He said: “This was going to have to go anyway, as part of the project to remodel the road layout around there but certainly given the events we are keen to close it as soon as possible now.”

The Queensway Project, carried out by Southend Council, is a regeneration of the Queensway area, to turn it into a vibrant new homes development.

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