My postbag is growing by the day with residents and businesses complaining about being deeply affected by the Ipswich Road/Harwich Rd roundabouts work.

Many businesses are struggling with excessive business rates being levied by Government and with the impact of a significant drop in takings it is going to be difficult for some to survive.

Residents on the east of the town are most affected. Those drivers coming off the A12 are avoiding Ipswich Road and diverting through Greenstead making Avon Way one big car park - and the same goes for Clingoe Hill as more traffic arrives on the Olympic roundabout creating more congestion.

We know the improvements are needed, but why didn’t Essex County Council look at measures to alleviate the impact.

Concessions on buses could have been considered to get more people to leave their cars at home, it wasn’t.

They could of lobbied Essex University to open up Boundary Road for the duration of the works, they didn't.

They could have invested in greater staff resources to get the job done quicker, they didn't.

I get frequent complaints of few or no workers on site, why is this? It simply isn’t good enough.

I put forward my ideas to alleviate this situation to the lead officer and through the Local Highways Panel to Councillor Kevin Bentley.

This was at least two weeks ago, and I am still awaiting the answer.

Now the portfolio holder for transport at Colchester Council and the MP have added their voices to the call for action together with thousands of people who signed the online petition I am hoping we might see some measures being taken.

Colchester deserves better.

Julie Young
County Councillor for Wivenhoe St Andrew
Mascot Square, Colchester