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On Christmas Day, one man opened his gift to find a piece of the notorious Army and Navy flyover.

Now shut for good while the council work to find a better and safer solution for Chelmsford's traffic, one resident has a piece to hold as a keepsake forever.

David Leavy was presented with the unusual gift by his daughter Dawn Tyler, who contacted Essex County Council with his story and a bizarre request.

When she heard that the flyover was going to be removed she told them of his unique link to the busy junction at the heart of the city.

Back in February 2010, Mr Leavy was driving over the flyover when his heart stopped and his car came to rest on the roundabout.

Thankfully, he survived and had a pacemaker fitted at Broomfield Hospital, with the incident revealing he had a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

Mrs Tyler said: “Dad’s life changed dramatically after that and it was a lucky escape in many ways.

“He retired within a year or so and it just made him really think about the things that are most important in life.

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“When we saw the flyover had closed and was due to be taken down, we thought it would be a great idea to try and get him a small piece of it.”

The piece of the flyover handed over to the family, a small core from one of the trestle bases, was removed during repair works in 2018. Mrs Tyler then gave it to her 67-year-old dad, a former conveyancing search agent.

Mrs Tyler added: “We got a box frame to present it in and gave it to him on Christmas Day.

“He loved it and I am eternally grateful to Essex County Council for making it all happen.”

(Image: Essex County Council)

The permanent closure of the Army and Navy flyover was announced back in September, 2019, on safety grounds following the recommendation of an engineering report.

Signage on the approaches to the flyover has already been removed and main works to dismantle the structure are expected to take place early in the new year.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “The Army and Navy flyover has been a well-known feature of the Chelmsford skyline for 40 years and its removal will be a historic milestone for the city.

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“I was very interested to hear about the special significance of the flyover to Mr Leavy and pleased we were be able to give him his own small piece of Chelmsford’s history.

“It is certainly one of the more unusual Christmas gifts I have ever heard of, but I am very pleased to hear it put a smile on his face.

“With the flyover due to be removed very soon, we are continuing to assess potential options for a long-term solution at this crucial junction.

“Steps are already being taken to reduce the programme wherever possible and we will progress the project as quickly as we can. However, we must also ensure we get it right and any improvements encourage more sustainable travel and avoid putting additional pressure on other roads in the city centre.”

For more information visit: www.essex.gov.uk/armyandnavy .