Planned changes at a dangerous junction will make crossing a game of "Russian Roulette", it is claimed.

Last week, it was announced that pedestrians will be given more time to cross at the junction of Albert Road, Palmerston Road, Roding Lane and Loughton Way in Buckhurst Hill.

People living in nearby residential care homes are often caught halfway across the junction, with little time to cross the busy roads.

Maureen Waites is the manager of Regency Lodge in Albert Road.

She claimed the changes will encourage elderly people to cross without providing proper safety measures such as a designated crossing, or a display showing the remaining time.

She said: “It is going to be Russian Roulette, they will not know to go or not.

“I think that is even worse, I cannot see how that would benefit anybody.

“How will they know if they have got enough time to get across the road, and which side to cross from?”

Epping Forest Guardian:

Maureen Waites (top centre) with staff and residents at Regency Lodge

She also mentioned other safety issues including parked cars forcing elderly people into the path of oncoming traffic.

She said: “I think they need to look at the whole issue - the parking, the lines and the lights.

“I mean we are completely fed up with it, the ladies campaigned for a crossing there years ago.

“My concern is my residents, and I do not think they are being treated very fairly by Highways – they need to stop and think about them a bit more.”

People have also questioned why it has taken Essex County Council four years since a petition to make the small change.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Aline Kay said the council has taken too long to make the change

“It is not quick enough”, said Regency Lodge resident Aline Kay, 80.

“To us it seems simple, but I know these councils have to budget and it is very difficult to get to the person to say ‘Yes, it is going to be done’.

“We have had so many promises, we are very sceptical.”

There will be no additional measures and it is not clear why the county council decision took so long.

Green party district councillor Steven Neville started the petition for safety changes in 2011.

He said: “I handed in the petition and then they looked into every possible option and the very last one they looked into was the pedestrian crossing, they considered all kinds of things.”

A date has not yet been announced for the timing change.

Essex County Council has been contacted for comment.