A12 Cuton Lakes, Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex

<body bgcolor="#ffffff"> <p>A12 Cuton Lakes is one of those venues which has been seen by thousands of anglers but has been little fished. <br /> The lakes lie next to a lay-by on the main A12 London to Ipswich road at Chelmsford in Essex. However, you can't get to the lakeside from the A12, instead you have to leave the A12 and drive through Chelmer Village - and unless you know where you are going you probably wouldn't find them. <br /> <br /> Which is why until now the lakes have been a closely guarded secret known only by a few local anglers or passers by who risked clambering down the road bank, jumping a stream, finding a way through the fence... and picking up a ticket for illegal parking in the adjacent lay-by! <br /> <br /> A12 Cuton Lakes were created between 18 and 20 years ago when gravel was extracted from the site to build the A12 and later the M25 motorwaay. After extraction finished the lakes filled naturally, fed by groundwater, three spings and floodwater when the nearby River Chelmer topped its banks. As fish started to find their way into the lakes from the river, local anglers started to take advantage of the free fishing and over the years the lakes built up a decent head of roach, rudd, bream, tench and carp. <br /> <br /> A12 Cuton Lakes is approximately 14 miles from junction 28 off the M25. Take exit 28 off the M25 heading East on the A12. Leave the A12 at Junction 18 and follow the signs to Chelmsford A414 Maldon Road. Go straight across the first roundabout at the second roundabout take the second exit. Continue along the A414 dual carrage way until you come to the the Army and Navy roundabout where there is a small flyover. Take the fourth exit A138 Chelmer Road and go over the river Chelmer. At the next roundabout take the second exit on the Chelmer Village Way and go past the retail park on the left. Take the second exit at the next roundabout (ie.straight over) and continue along Chelmer Village Way before turning right at the first turning into Sandford Mill Road. Follow to the end of the road and you will come to the sewage works, turn right outside the sewage works into Brook End Road. Continue until you see a hump back bridge, and on your left you will see the entrance to the lakes. Continue along the concrete road untill you come to the lakes. Please use car park provided. <br /> If leaving the A12 at Junction 19, at the large service area roundabout take the second exit on the A130 Colchester Road to the right of the Royal Mail Building. At the large roundabout take the first exit on the B1137 Colchester Road. At the next small roundabout take the second exit, (ie. straight over). At the large roundabout take the first exit B&Q on the left hand side into Cuton Hall Lane. At the next small roundabout take the first exit into Chelmere Village Way. Go straight over the next three small roundabouts and after the third take the first left into Sandford Mill Road, just past ASDA. Follow the road to the end and you will come to the sewage works. At the sewage works turn right and follow the road to the small hump back bridge. The gate to Cuton lakes is on your left. Follow the concrete road into the lakes. Please use carpark provided.</p> </body>