COUNCILS have hit out at plans for a new £70million dual carriageway set to be built as part of the creation of a 9,000-home new town.

Essex County Council has submitted a scoping opinion request for the link road, which will connect the A120 and the A133 at Elmstead Market.

Government funding has been secured for the new road, which is being built to help facilitate construction of the new town between Greenstead and Wivenhoe.

But Wivenhoe Town Council says the new road will not take any pressure off the notoriously congested Clingoe Hill and traffic will increase through the area.

Read more >>> Scoping request submitted for £70m A120/A133 link road

A spokesman said: “Any attempts to modify Clingoe Hill in mitigation of increased traffic, especially when the link road facilitates more traffic, brings Colchester to a standstill.

“Recent works to St Andrew’s Avenue and Ipswich Road now make it impossible to increase road capacity through Colchester.”

The council says residents of the town are totally opposed to the construction of the dual-carriageway.

“We do not believe the facilitation of new road building is compatible in a country whose Government has only recently declared a climate and biodiversity emergency,” the spokesman said.

“For the record, the community of Wivenhoe does not support the need for this road.

"Neither it, nor any mitigating actions from it does anything but negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Elmstead Parish Council has also set out its objections to the link road plan, criticising the timing of the report.

A spokesman said: “We are the nearest village to the proposed garden community with the biggest impact being felt by the Elmstead Market residents, but we have not been able to seek professional expert advice due to the tight time restraints.

“People choose to live in Elmstead Market for its rural aspect.

“They choose to escape from busy, overpopulated towns and cities.

“Therefore it is very disappointing we now have to be commenting on a scoping report to build a major four-lane road which will impact greatly on the village and surrounding countryside.

“It is also noted that during the construction period of the road there will be increased traffic on the A133 passing through Elmstead Market which will result in enormous pressure on the current highways measures in place.

“However, there is little mention if any of the impact this will have on a road already struggling to cope with the current flow of traffic.”

The road will be about 2.4km long, with as many as 1,400 vehicles expected to use it during peak periods by 2033.

Construction will take place from spring 2022 to spring 2024.