AN £11 MILLION junction which opened just seven years ago will have to be redesigned.

Veteran Colchester councillor Dennis Willetts revealed junction 28 of the A12, by Colchester Stadium, will inevitably be altered due to a “lack of planning coordination”.

The news comes after Colchester Council agreed to a revised masterplan for the area as it is creating a Northern Gateway sports complex close to the junction and owns land there.

Colchester councillors have been told a redesign – set to cost millions of taxpayers’ cash – looks likely entail dualling of a single lane slip road leading to the junction from the A12.

There would also have to be improvements to pathways for an anticipated increase pedestrians.

If the junction isn't redesigned for the sports complex, the proposed widening of the A12 to three lanes to Colchester could also provide timing for junction 28 to be redesigned.

Essex County Council, Highways England and Colchester Council have all been involved in development of the area over a number of years.

Mr Willetts, former Tory group leader in Colchester, said: “In a perfect world all the parties will have talked to each other. The need for expensive design would have been obviated.

“The practical reality of life is there are three separate Government agencies – Essex County Council, Highways England and Colchester Council, who it would appear have not been aware of each other’s long term plans.

“It is difficult to point the finger as whose fault it is. Should the borough council have brought forward its plans earlier? But the reason is when you have got three involved in the area these things happen. We will have to ensure this is done in good time and in a timely manner.”

Mr Willetts admitted there had been a "lack of planning coordination."

Next year looks set to see the opening of the multi-million Northern Gateway sports complex with a state-of-the-art 2,425sqm sports centre, sports pitches, a 1.6km cycle track, running spaces, an archery area and an indoor cricket pitch.

It was first suggested by Colchester Council around 2005.

Mr Willetts said: “At the time it wasn’t anticipated there was going to a regional sports facility on the country side of the stadium.

“There are going to be far more people in that area and the slip roads are not designed for ease of people crossing.”

Mr Willetts admitted the redesign could cost millions.

Colchester councillors have been told pedestrian improvements could cost £500,000.

Martin Goss, Lib Dem leader of Colchester council's Local Plan Committee, said at the time the junction opened Essex County Council only had a certain budget and were aware of the capacity requirements.

But Kevin Bentley, Essex County Councillor responsible for Economic Growth, Skills, Infrastructure and Digital Economy, said: "It is not really a waste of tax payers' money you are improving roads for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

"Road improvements are not cheap. What we have to do is keep pace with the growth that goes on. If you look at it as a single figure it is a huge amount of money but if you look at the round it is about improving the county."

Mr Bentley said an announcement on whether the A12 is going to be widened as far as junction 28 is expected within months.

Junction 28 was designed by and is owned by Highways England.

Colchester Council was supposed to have contributed but did not have the money as it was waiting on cash to come in from potential housing developers for the former Severalls Hospital site.

Essex County Council paid Colchester Council’s portion.

THE boss of a firm tasked with marketing units at the Northern Gateway says interest has been slow.

Whybrow has been asked by Turnstone Estates, the developer behind the plans, to try to sell the leases for two units at the north Colchester site.

These units, each on around 10 acres of land, are designated for employment use which means they could be offices or warehouse space but are not permitted for retail.

Ewan Dodds, chief executive of Whybrow, said: “We would certainly like it to be moving more quickly than it has.

“These things are very technical and take some time to get them in a position where they can advance.”