Crash prompts bus lane rethink

From the archive, first published Wednesday 25th Apr 2007.

TRANSPORT bosses say they will look into putting more signs up along a controversial new bus lane where a car and a bus crashed head-on this week.

Within days of coming into operation this month, the contraflow from Queensway to Chichester Road drew criticism from bus drivers, traders and motorists.

Following Tuesday's crash, Southend Council agreed the signs needed to improve, but have stopped short of considering putting the road back to how it used to be.

Brian Kelly, the council's cabinet member for resources, said the new system was still settling down.

He said: "I will certainly be putting forward the suggestion we put in more signs warning of a new road layout."

Tony Stevens, manager of Victoria Shoes in Southchurch Road, said: "It was inevitable something was going to happen and there are going to be other incidents as well as this one.

"As far I am concerned, it seems everything at this end of the town has been half completed.

"I suggest the council pull their fingers out and get something done before someone gets killed there."

Since the crash, the Echo website has been inundated.

Libby Bawden from Southend was on the bus involved in the crash. She wrote: "I suffered terrible pain under my bust as I went over the seat."

Some have condemned the new lane, calling for the scheme to be abandoned.

GT from Southend wrote: "Get rid of the bus lane and revert to the diversion."