SAFETY improvements at a busy four-way junction are set to be explored after pressure from campaigners.

Residents of Tiptree have been raising concerns about the junction, where Church Road meets Factory Hill, Station Road and Chapel Road, since last year.

Vic Birch has contacted Essex County Council and the village’s MP, Priti Patel, asking for urgent for help to sort out the dangerous section of road before a serious accident takes place.

He said it is down to luck accidents have been avoided.

He said: “It seems everyone has been avoiding the issue and people in authority have not addressed it.

“There are a lot of people using the junction and a great need for improvements.

“Many people try and cross Church Road.

“There is a very popular chip shop, two Chinese restaurants and a bus stop on one side of the road.”

He added: “When the school lets out it is pandemonium and tankers are continually coming out of the Wilkin & Sons factory.

“It is very dangerous. It is by luck rather than judgment there are not a lot of accidents.”

New homes at the Nine Acres estate, off Factory Road, have made the junction increasingly busy.

Home Secretary Ms Patel has backed campaigners’ calls for action and warned infrastructure must keep pace with the village’s growth.

She said a solution needs to be found quickly.

She said: “Residents should not have to suffer from the impact of new development and it is important that as much action as possible is taken to address the problems at this location.

“Essex County Council should review this matter and work to find a solution.”

Essex County Council said Colchester’s Local Highways Panel has taken up the issue of safety improvements at the junction.

They said a feasibility study had been commissioned.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The Local Highways Panel now plans to improve the warning signs.

“It also plans to refresh the road markings at the junction this financial year, with dates for implementation to be decided in the near future.”