A CONTROVERSIAL plan to widen Priory Crescent should be reconsidered to tackle traffic jams at Southend’s Cuckoo Corner, it has been suggested.

In 2004, a plan to use part of Priory Park to widen the often gridlocked stretch of road attracted a stream of protests and was eventually dropped, but Stephen Aylen, non-aligned councillor for Belfairs ward, claims it is time to resurrect the scheme.

His comments came on Thursday night where a motion, tabled by St Laurence ward Labour councillors Lydia Hyde and Daniel Cowan, to improve the junction was debated.

Mr Aylen said: “We need to relook at Priory Crescent and go back and look at widening it. The restraints on it before was on the covenants on the land in Priory Park. That’s all gone now.

“We gave Southend United a chunk of Jones Memorial Ground and a piece of Victoria Sports Ground so we can now widen that with no problem. Move the pavement into Priory Park which will relieve traffic out of Cuckoo Corner which would considerably help the flow.”

The 2004 £25million plan sparked the Camp Bling protests which saw a camp set up in the park. It stayed in place for almost four years.

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for Thorpe ward repeated his call to divert traffic around the park.

He said: “It has an enormous effect on our economy. I’ve said before, it can be done, we should make all the road around Priory Park into a big roundabout.

“That’s the only way unless you widen Priory Crescent and knock all those trees down and that’s not going to happen.”

Richard Longstaff, Green Party councillor for Leigh ward suggested lobbying the government for funding for an underpass, however Kevin Buck, councillor responsible for transport, highways and parking said it would cost between £50million and £100million.

Ms Hyde called for the air to be monitored for particulate matter from traffic over fears it could be impacting residents health, while Mr Cowan, leader of the Labour Group, said a box junction could help to solve some of the problems.

He added good road layout, good sequencing of lights and appropriately placed pedestrian crossings would improve the junction.

The motion was carried and will be further debated.