A public consultation has been launched into controversial plans to permanently shut a traffic barrier.

People can contact the highways department with their views on the plan to close the barrier between Shenfield Road and Cavendish Avenue, in Woodford Green.

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

The move is a bid by Redbridge council to save around £35,000 operation costs a year by also permanently closing barriers in Fairlawn Drive, Woodford Green, and Kelvedon Way, Woodford Bridge.

Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith has backed the campaign calling on the council to rethink the decision which residents say 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 roads.

To have your say on plans, email the council’s highways team on: Highways.Parkingdesign@redbridge.gov.uk

The public consultation will end on April 23.

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Iain Duncan Smith visited the road last month.