A POWER company has apologised for “incorrect communications” which left homeowners fearing they would be "trapped" in their village. 

Last weekend, signs appeared in Black Notley warning The Street, the village’s connecting road to Braintree, would be closed for five weeks, 24-hours-a-day from September 16.

With other road closures around the village in Witham Road and Baker's Lane, residents shared their fears they would be “trapped.”

Emma Poole, who lives in Mary Ruck Way, said: “It’s a right pain really, a real pain in the backside for school runs.

“We literally feel like we’re going to be trapped here.”

Closure - UK Power Networks are finalising the next stage of works in Black Notley. Closure - UK Power Networks are finalising the next stage of works in Black Notley. (Image: Newsquest)

Emma is among the many residents in the village who visit schools in Great Notley and Braintree for the school run.

But with Church Road and Baker’s Lane currently closed for works, closing The Street means residents would have been forced to take a five-mile diversion to reach Great Notley.

Business owners in the village are also worried about what the road closures could have meant for customers.

Pauline Milligan and Emma Meadows run Kut and Dry, the village’s hairdressers on Bedells Avenue, and saw the signs warning of the closure.

Pauline said: “We have had no information, and we have to run a business.

“We’ve had no communication at all.”

Emma added: “This would definitely affect our customers.

“We need to have more information, and they haven’t let us know.”

Worry - Pauline (left) and her daughter Emma (right) outside their hair salon Kut and Dry. Worry - Pauline (left) and her daughter Emma (right) outside their hair salon Kut and Dry. (Image: Newsquest) Just days later, the signs warning of the closure were taken down, and UK Power Networks shared with the Times they are investigating “incorrect communications” which had been issued.

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said: “UK Power Networks is currently installing ducts for new cables in Black Notley to provide a new connection to the electricity network.

“Work started on August 12 and has progressed along Bakers Lane and is due to continue into Church Road.

“Our work currently includes a temporary road closure on Bakers Lane, between the junctions of Row Green and Church Road.

“The approved diversion route is signposted, agreed in consultation with the local highways authority.

“The next stage of our work in The Street is being finalised and we will write to residents with details once this is confirmed.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are working closely with the local authority to keep the traffic impact to a minimum and keep residents updated.”