Fortune of War

[South Bucks Shrimper]

Can you help settle a family argument?

When did the Fortune of War roundabout on the A127 stop being a roundabout?

I say early 80's, but a Basildon web site says 1995.

 

[OldBlueLady]

http://www.basildon.com/history/laindon/fortune.html

This seems to back up the '95 call. I honestly don't think it's as long ago as the 80s.

 

[steveo]

I started traveling to Romford in 1988 and it was a roundabout then so 1995 is probably right

 

[RobM]

Definitely not 80's in my view. More to the point, why is it not a roundabout any more?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

During the late 1930s the Arterial Road was converted to duel carriageway and around this time the A127/B1007 Laindon crossroads was upgraded to a roundabout, which appropriately took the name of the adjacent public house. Despite the loss of the pub, the roundabout, which has been closed to right turns since 1995, is still referred to as the Fortune of War.

 

[Bielzibubz]

1995 it was. Two years after I started working on the industrial estate next door. One of consequences of doing away with the roundabout system is that over the years a number of north, and indeed a number of south bound, HGV's have taken the turn a little to fast and shed their loads. Four times I've seen various loads strewn all over the road and once the complete trailer went over and ended up on the forecourt on the petrol station based there.

 

[RobM]

One assumes then that going North-South means negotiating the bum-shaped piece if road.

 

[Bielzibubz]

Well yes :P I should have said East/West but you got my drift.

Some people can be sooooooo pedantic ;)

 

[RobM]

No - you misunderstand me - the A127 goes East-West, the North-South road is still there I assume (not been that way for a while). If there wasn't N/S road, there wouldn't have been the need for a roundabout in the first place.

 

[Bielzibubz]

Ah got ya. Yes the two North-South roads are still there. One leads to a residential area and the other to the industrial estate I used to work on. I can remember taking that roundabout in my early days of driving and you really did take your life into your own hands when trying to negotiate it at rush hour. It's still a bit dodgy because the 'bum shaped' bit you mentioned earlier can really catch you out if you take it a little to fast on the entry.

 

[South Bucks Shrimper]

Thanks for your replies. I guess I'll have to concede this one!

Happy New Year to all.

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Definitely not 80's in my view. More to the point, why is it not a roundabout any more?

Because you cant drive all the way round it anymore....:unsure:



:p

 

[Mad Cyril]

Does anyone know what happened to the Happy Eater dinosaur?

 

[BrettieAngell]

I know it would be a massive pain in the arse and would block one of only two roads coming into Southend while they did it but it would be much better if they straightened that bit.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

I'd like to see it straightened as well, however it does slow the traffic down so they'll probably keep it in place. It has provided a few entertaining moments seeing the local Saturday late-night Nova-driving chaps misjudge the speed and end up on their roof in the BP garage....

 

[Yer Blues]

Does anyone know what happened to the Happy Eater dinosaur?

i am now married to it

 

[eastwood shrimper]

I'd like to see it straightened as well, however it does slow the traffic down so they'll probably keep it in place. It has provided a few entertaining moments seeing the local Saturday late-night Nova-driving chaps misjudge the speed and end up on their roof in the BP garage....

more like they'll put speed cameras up there again and try to make more money from the essex motorist

 

[RobM]

They could try a turnstile! That'll slow 'em!