A plan to permanently shut a traffic barrier has been defended by Redbridge council, following criticism of the move.

The barrier between Shenfield Road and Cavendish Avenue, in Woodford Green, is due to be closed permanently in a bid to save around £35,000 a year.

It was put in place in the mid 1980s to prevent the road being used as a rat-run during rush hour.

Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith, who visited the road on Friday, has backed residents who are concerned that the plan will force them to make detours to access their properties.

A spokesman for Redbridge council said the decision was due to a pressing need to make savings wherever possible, and to keep the barrier open permanently would only make traffic worse in the road.

He said: “Redbridge council is under a lot of pressure to make savings and this is a way that we can achieve a significant saving.

“It costs about £35,000 per year to open and close several gates.

“The decision to keep the gates permanently closed is based on the need to recognise that these are largely residential areas and we do not want to increase traffic flows at peak periods."