CAMPAIGNERS have described a consultation for the upgrading of the A12 as a “sham”.

Highways England received complaints over its consultation for the upgrade of the A12 between Kelvedon and Marks Tey.

The Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex (CAUSE) says the consultation, launched last month, was not properly backed up with adequate information.

CAUSE secretary Rosie Pearson said there needed to be justification for the spending of taxpayers’ money.

She said: “We are concerned the ‘non-statutory’ nature of this process results in a sham consultation which is nothing more than a PR exercise avoiding the usual high standards expected of a public consultation.”

The group said there needs to be more information, including route costings, air quality information, traffic modelling, clear route maps and more direct comparison with the 2017 options, which were also put out to consultation.

They say the plans contradict government guidance that there should be only one primary route between two places.

Highways England says it is committed to upgrading the whole stretch of the A12 between Chelmsford and Marks Tey.

A further non-statutory consultation opened on October 20 to gather public feedback on four new routes running between junctions 23 and 25, that could be used if the proposed garden community at West Tey does go ahead.

Highways England had announced its plan to widen the stretch of A12 to three lanes in 2017, but that was before plans were submitted for the West Tey development.

It is believed if no decision is made on the West Tey garden community plan by spring next year, then a decision will be made to proceed on the basis of a consultation held in 2017, which envisaged a six-lane road running parallel to the existing road.

Rosie Pearson said the proposed reroute will create a longer A12, which will be more expensive and involve longer journey times.

The group also says to have a second consultation so soon after the one in 2017 is a wasteful use of taxpayers’ money.

Ms Pearson added: “Highways England may not be aware this is the fourth consultation on the north Essex new towns in three months, and the third which assumes that West Tey will be built.

“The public will see it as further evidence the authorities, and now Highways England, are using sham consultations to sell unpopular schemes.”

A Highways England spokesperson said they believed the level of detail in the consultation material was sufficient.

They said: “We welcome all views on our proposals for the A12 and encourage anyone with an interest to have their say.

“We believe the level of detail in the plans are appropriate for a scheme at this stage of its development and the consultation is an opportunity for the public to scrutinise the plans so we can ensure we can take all evidence fully into account.”

The consultation is open until December 1.

For more information visit highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a12-chelmsford-to-a120-widening-scheme-23-to-25.

There will be a consultation event on Saturday from noon until 5pm at Marks Tey Village Hall in Old London Road.