CHAOS has been felt in Maldon this month as planned roadworks have been preventing buses from going down the High Street... even though the roadworks are not taking place.

The roadworks were due to begin on August 5 until October 6.

Buses 31, 331 and 332 were all affected and were not stopping down Maldon High Street.

Continuing - The 288 bus was still operating down the normal route through the High StreetContinuing - The 288 bus was still operating down the normal route through the High Street (Image: Credited)

Due to the planned roadworks, regular bus users were having to use alternative options.

However, the 288 bus has been still operating and continuing to use the High Street.

Questions have since been raised as to why other bus services couldn't also use the normal route.

Notice - This notice was put up in one of the bus stops at the top of the High StreetNotice - This notice was put up in one of the bus stops at the top of the High Street (Image: Credited)

Maldon Town Council bus representative from 2003 until 2020 Steven Savage said: “While the public appreciate the works need to be done, it is the way Essex County Council have gone about this, public notification has been ignored by the licensing authority.

“Due process not followed. Essex Highways need to pull their socks up. 

"Two licenses are required not one, Wantz Road to Park Drive and the second, Park Drive to Church Street, this may be even older.

Dead end - St Mary's Lane is a cul-de-sac which sits off the High Street and if works were done, residents would be left with no way outDead end - St Mary's Lane is a cul-de-sac which sits off the High Street and if works were done, residents would be left with no way out (Image: Credited)

St Mary’s Lane - a cul-de-sac off of the High Street was included in the plans for the work.

Resident of St Mary’s Lane, Ian Cox, said: “They said initially they were blocking it all off, now they're only blocking half of Mill Road off, I suppose to do the first bit, so they've rearranged all the buses again.

“It's caused a lot of confusion. They've told us that they're going to switch the gas off, but they've done nothing about parking or anything about all the people.”

Normal - Despite the plans for roadworks to be done, there is no sign of themNormal - Despite the plans for roadworks to be done, there is no sign of them (Image: Credited)

Essex Highways said the gas mains replacement works by Cadent were temporarily on hold due to "unexpected engineering difficulties".

Buses which were being diverted have since been able to return to their normal routes.

“We greatly appreciate the patience of bus users as vital works are carried out as safely as possible," a spokesman said.