TAXPAYERS may have to fork out millions after a major new road for Colchester went nearly £4million over budget.

The extension to the Northern Approach Road, taking it through the former Severalls Hospital site to the A12 junction at Cuckoo Farm, began in August 2013.

It was forecast to take 12 months and cost £10.9million.

However, a series of issues have forced Essex County Council to find an extra £3.8million for the road and have pushed the opening date back to January 2015.

Martin Goss, Lib Dem councillor for Mile End, questioned why County Hall did not set a fixed contract with main contractor, Bam Nuttall.

He said: “I’m gobsmacked that this has overrun by £3.8million. The cost has gone up by a third.

“I’m surprised it’s been flagged up this late in the day. It was too late in the game to be raising it now. It is disappointing. I think the people of Colchester are going to be raising their eyebrows a bit like Roger Moore.”

The county council has published a report explaining how a mix of high rainfall and unexpected discoveries on the ground led to the delays and cost rises.

The scheme will see a single carriageway road from the Colchester United stadium roundabout to the junction of Mill Road and the NorthernApproach, in north Colchester.

Eddie Johnson, councillor responsible for highways maintenance and small schemes, insisted the £14.7 million pricetag still represented good value for taxpayers because of the benefits it would bring to north Colchester.

He said: “Unfortunately, the scheme has suffered delays, primarily due to ground conditions differing from survey records, problems with the deep tunnelling required to provide drainage for the future Severalls development and wet weather conditions last Spring.

“These delays mean the road is now expected to be open in January 2015 and have resulted in additional costs being incurred.

“Despite the setbacks, we are confident the scheme will deliver benefits in terms of economic and residential growth, provide improvements to congestion and air quality, and help deliver long term aspirations for Colchester town centre.”

The Homes and Communities Agency and the Haven Gateway awarded £4.55 million towards the initial project.

The remainder was forward funded by Essex County Council, which will gradually recoup the cash as the former hospital site is redeveloped.

The report states County Hall will have to borrow the £3.8 million overspend. However as part of a legal agreement the Homes and Communities Agency, which part owns the site, will have to pay back 40 per cent, or around £1.5 million.

According to the report, there is “no immediate source of financing”

available for the remainder.

Pete Hewitt, chairman of Myland Community Council, said: “I think it is very disappointing that that amount of money has to be found. It is a lot of money.

“But at the same time the long suffering people of north Colchester are never surprised when they find out there are problems with the transport strategy.

“It’s got to the point where it has to be completed. If more money needs to be thrown at it then so be it.”