TRAFFIC bosses have been accused of botching plans to cope with traffic in a community where the first of 3,000 new homes has just been finished.
 

Essex County Council, Colchester Council and consultants Mouchel’s have drawn up the North Colchester Travel Strategy, which aims to make gridlock in the area a thing of the past.
 

It comes as the first of 1,500 homes on the former Severalls Hospital site were unveiled at a ceremony today.
 

Plans for another 1,600 homes to be built on land between Nayland Road and Bergholt Road went on show to the public last week.
 

Those proposals also include two schools, a supermarket and community facilities.
 

Members of Myland Community Council say they are “angry and frustrated” a new draft of the travel plan has been released despite being incomplete.
 

They say it does not include research demonstrating how the area could cope with additional traffic from the new homes.
 

Pete Hewitt, a community councillor, said: “As it stands, there is no evidence that proposed infrastructure changes, which include a change to road layouts and the introduction of new bus lanes, will either handle significant extra traffic, or encourage sufficient numbers of people to adopt public transport instead.
 

“Myland Community councillors have repeatedly asked Essex County Council for the modelling data, but have been refused at every request.
 

“And with planning applications now lodged with Colchester Council for developments at Chesterwell and Severalls, there is a significant danger that permission will be granted for these major developments without a workable, evidence-based travel strategy being in place.”
 

The basis of Essex County Council’s plan is that as people move into the new developments, they will use public transport, cycle or walk instead of getting in their cars.
 

However, Mr Hewitt said there is no proof this will happen.
 

He added: “We’re faced with botched plans that are riddled with engineering problems and funding issues and which will create five new congestion points in north Colchester over the next few years.”
 

The North Colchester Travel Plan’s draft proposals include a new circular system at North Station, extra lanes linking the roundabouts south of the station and new slip roads on and off Cymbeline Way.


The proposed changes would be carried out in 2015 and 2016 – once the new road linking Northern Approach Road with junction 28 of the A12 and the new park and ride has been built.

But it is not clear who would fund the £13 million scheme.


An Essex County Council spokesman said it is working with Colchester Council on the travel plan, which focuses on encouraging people to use public transport, cycle or walk.