Fears have been raised about a road collasping after a badgers sett sparked a closure of Leigh pavements until further notice. 

Southend Council took the decision to close pavements in Cliff Parade, between Leigh Hill and Avenue Road, and a small section between the junction of Cliff Parade, Sea Reach and Cliff Parade on Friday.

Checks on the roads and pavements have found “ongoing deterioration” caused by a badger sett underneath the surface, sparking concerns for public safety.

Lib Dem councillor for the Leigh ward, Peter Wexham, said: “It is partly to do with land slipping, the land is moving all the time and has been over the years.

Get more great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our morning newsletter - don't miss out!

 

“The badgers are causing a problem with the road and pavements and the road could collapse because the badgers are burrowing underneath it. They have opened up a big area and it’s enough to cause a problem.

“It’s now breeding season and it could take until the summer to get them out. The road ad pavement is dropping so the council is stopping vehicles and people using it.

It will cause inconvenience.”

The badgers have undercut the cliff which has caused instability and the council has not been able to carry out repairs because approval is required from Natural England to close the sett, which is not currently possible due to badger hibernation.

READ MORE >>>

With the south-side pavement closure now in place on Cliff Parade, pedestrians are asked to use the path on the northern side of Cliff Parade which will remain open.

A lane closure will be in place from today. Cliff Parade will be under traffic signal control for the duration of the closure. Access in and out of Seaview Road onto Cliff Parade will also be suspended to ease congestion.

Steven Wakefield, councillor responsible for highways, said: “Public safety is our number one priority and until we can make safe and stabilise the road and pavement, the closure will have to remain in place.

“The council has not been able to carry out the necessary repairs to the road and pavement because the area is on top of a badger sett, and whilst we have been working with Natural England for two years to try and move the sett, the badgers have shown a great reluctance to move on. We apologise for any inconvenience.”