MP's plea to Government over A12 link

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Apr 2008

Colchester MP Bob Russell has called on the Government to fund a junction from the A12 Northern By-Pass into the Severalls area of Colchester after a major house-builder withdrew from buying the site of the former Severalls Hospital.

Part of the proceeds from the subsequent development would have paid for the multi-million pound junction - but now it is uncertain when the junction will be built.

Mr Russell revealed today that he had written to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, to request that the Government pays for the junction in advance of any development of the Severalls area - which, if the Government agrees, would he believe assist the eventual sale of the former hospital site and grounds, plus land owned by Colchester Borough Council.

He explained: "Without the junction, the new Community Stadium will be seriously affected by the inadequate road infrastructure. Also, with land prices falling and major house-builders not buying big sites, the National Health Service will now not get until much later the many millions of pounds which had been anticipated with the sale of Severalls."

Special permission was given to enable the Community Stadium to be built in advance of the new junction from the A12 to the Northern Approach Road, but it was anticipated that the junction would be built around 2010. However, with the collapse of the sale of Severalls to house-builders Taylor Wimpey it is not now known when it will be built, nor when the promised new housing and commercial development in North Colchester will proceed.

This is the second time that Mr Russell has intervened over the A12 junction - without his success last time the Community Stadium would not have been built.

Four years ago, after he raised the matter during Transport Questions in the House of Commons, a Transport Minister agreed with Mr Russell's request for a meeting to discuss the failure to get agreement for a junction from the A12 into the Severalls area.

The meeting was duly held, attended also by representatives from the Highway Agency, Health Service, Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council, and all outstanding problems were resolved thus enabling the development potential in North Colchester (including the Community Stadium) to be taken forward.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell said today: "It is clearly a setback for Colchester's employment prospects, not to mention the success of theCommunity Stadium, that the A12 junction will be delayed for years unless the Government agrees to pay for the work upfront. That is what I have asked the Secretary of State for Transport."