3:00pm Tuesday 4th August 2009
By James Calnan
NEARLY £10million of Government funding to complete a new A12 junction at Colchester is expected to be confirmed this month.
The Gazette understands Essex County Council will shortly win £9.8 million to build a road linking the Northern Approach Road, in Mile End, with a new junction on the A12 at Cuckoo Farm.
Earlier this year, the Government guaranteed £11.2million from the Homes and Communities Agency’s community infrastructure fund for the junction itself, due to start later this year.
Although the Government and council chiefs are tight-lipped on any potential funding from the same fund, if it goes ahead it will be a major step toward slashing congestion in Colchester.
Myland councillor Martin Goss said: “This road will bring major benefits to north Colchester.
“It will take traffic from the heavily-congested Mill Road down a full link to North Station.
“It will improve journey times, eventually give us a dedicated bus route into the heart of the town and generally improve the quality of life for everyone.
“The next challenge will be to fix the congestion at North Station, which, is being looked at, with plans for a second road being run from North Station to the Cowdray Avenue area. These are early plans of course.”
Also planned for the area are a 1,000-space park and ride, along with 1,500 homes on the site of the former Severalls Hospital.
Michael Page, county council spokesman said: “Essex County Council is working with the Homes and Communities Agency to progress the delivery of the final phase of the Northern Approaches Road linked to the new A12 junction at Cuckoo Farm.
“A number of funding opportunities are being considered and discussions are still ongoing with the HCA to finalise the exact nature of the agreement.”
A Homes and Communities Agency spokesman confirmed talks were ongoing but no decision had yet been made.
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