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Error admitted with roundabout arrow painting

Stuart Woodwardon Canvey Island
News imageStuart Woodward/BBC A roundabout at Canvey Island, with two lanes of traffic approaching it and other vehicles already on the roundabout. The left-hand lane shows a left-turn only in white paint, whilst the right-hand lane shows straight on.Stuart Woodward/BBC
The left-hand lane was changed in error to become a left-turn only, contradicting markings just a few yards further back

Incorrect road markings have confused motorists at a busy junction, a council has admitted.

Essex County Council's highways department said there had been "an error" when it repainted the white arrows on the southbound carriageway of the A130 Canvey Way at the Waterside Farm roundabout on Canvey Island.

The left-hand lane has always allowed traffic to continue straight on to the island or to turn left towards Benfleet, but a newly-painted arrow just a few yards further on suddenly removed the option to drive straight on.

The error would be rectified "as soon as possible", a council spokesperson told the BBC.

'Dizzy'

Motorists contacted BBC Essex's Ben Fryer programme to describe the confusion the new layout had caused.

One listener, Michelle, said she had stayed in the left lane, then had to quickly switch to the right lane, then back over to the left again.

"Luckily for me, at that time of night, no-one was behind me so I could zip across... I am dizzy typing this," she said.

Another listener, Claire said it was "really confusing".

"We really need to know what's right as there is going to be lots of accidents where you learn to drive to the left lane."

News imageStuart Woodward A roundabout at Canvey Island, with two lanes of traffic approaching it and other vehicles already on the roundabout. The left-hand lane shows a painted arrow which instructs motorists to turn left or go straight on, whilst the right-hand lane tells motorists to go straight onStuart Woodward
Just a few yards further back on Canvey Way, motorists are told the left-hand lane is also for going straight on, as well as turning left

Rebecca Harris, Conservative MP for Castle Point, said she had been told the markings would be rectified "hopefully overnight tonight [Tuesday], weather permitting".

"I'm very pleased they're going to correct it but I can't really understand how it came about," she said.

"Anyone who lives on Canvey Island would know this is absolutely bonkers."

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said "there has been an error with the lining application" on the southbound carriageway of Canvey Way.

"This lane should have kept its previous road markings to allow those on the A130 southbound left lane to travel either left towards Benfleet, or continue onto Somnes Avenue to Canvey Island," they added.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate road users' patience while we fix this issue."

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