Neil Gits Impressed

We all love to moan about the state of the roads in this country, it’s almost become as much of our national identity as discussing the weather. Be it the dreadful condition of the roads themselves or the ridiculous amount of traffic squeezing onto them at peak times, we love a good whinge about it ! Although there are big problems with both those areas of travel all over the country, from my experiences it seems Essex suffers more than most, especially with the number and size of pot holes left unattended for months on end, making driving around our county a very bumpy ride at times – not helped by some poorly laid out “speed humps” on local roads.

As for the huge amount of vehicles trying to navigate the busiest of major junctions at peak times, there’s not a lot that can be done. I laugh when I hear advice on travel reports, being told to “stagger your journeys” as though commuters are all able to talk to each other and agree to arrive at / leave their workplace five / ten minutes later / earlier ! But the situation isn’t helped by some of the road markings put in place in certain areas. Anyone not familiar with the roundabout at Pipps Hill coming off the A127 from the Rayleigh Weir direction, intending to drive up Noak Hill into Billericay has a big problem – for years now drivers have found themselves stopping at the junction, waiting to pull out and turn left, in such a position dictated by the white lines that it is almost physically impossible to stretch your neck far enough to see what is coming from the right !

A little further down the A127 at Nevendon when trying to join the road London bound from Wickford or the Burnt Mills area, the slip road falls halfway between being plenty wide enough for one lane of traffic, but not quite wide enough for two, with absolutely no road markings to guide you, resulting in some pretty close calls on my many visits there. That was until last Monday when I came off the roundabout and blow me – they’d sorted it !! Shiny new white lines have appeared on smooth new black tarmac and now we all know … it’s a two-lane slip ! It’s so easy to be critical of various authorities over certain situations, but fair play, someone somewhere got this decision right (at long last !) and now I can’t wait to get the car out on Monday en route to the studio and drive up there again !!

The latest playist from last Monday is posted below – savour & enjoy …

The Tunes – Monday 4th May 2026

Will Downing – A Love Supreme
Karen Young – You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till You Lose It
Chris Baxter & Foster Rogue ft Vula – Came So Close
Light Of The World – I Shot The Sheriff
Light Of The World – Midnight Groovin’
Luther – A Lover’s Change
Paulette McWilliams – Never Been Here Before
James Day ft Audrey Wheeler & Glenn Jones – Brick By Brick
Gayle Adams – I Loved Every Minute Of It
Mac Band – Roses Are Red
Toto – Georgy Porgy
Incognito – Shine On
Wanda Wonderful – My Body Movin’
Sweet Sensation – Sad Sweet Dreamer
Lisa Stansfield – All Around The World
Charles & Eddie – Would I Lie To You
Down To The Bone ft Hil St Soul – Get Up & Dance
Maze ft Frankie Beverly – I Wanna Thank You
The Mad Lads – Make This Young Lady Mine
Lukas Setto – Sweet Lovin’
Jean Carn – Time Waits For No-One
Dynasty – I Don’t Wanna Be A Freak
Cameo – It’s Serious

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock, across South Essex on DAB and available nationally via the Radio Player on your TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !