MANNINGTREE’S High Street could be made narrower in a bid to protect pedestrians and drivers.

Town councillors want to widen the pavements at the narrowest point of the road, known as “The Gut”.

As a result the road would be thinned so only one car or bus can pass at a time.

Drivers heading towards The Walls currently have to give way to drivers travelling in the opposite direction.

But Manningtree Town Council is concerned about the number of drivers flouting the rules.

Deputy mayor Lee Lay Flurrie asked for the paths to be widened for both pedestrian and driver safety at a meeting of the council on Thursday.

She said: “There are give way lines but you often find cars do not give way and you end up with two cars in The Gut.

“It seems obvious to me that is the way forward. If they can see there is only room for one car they won’t even attempt to go through the gap.”

The council will send details of the bid to Essex County Councillor for the area Carlo Guglielmi to pass on to the Tendring Local Highways Panel.