A12 Meeting

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Transport Minister Mr Tom Harris this afternoon (Tuesday) agreed with a request made to him in the House of Commons by Colchester MP Bob Russell to meet a delegation from the town to discuss the importance of building a junction from the A12 Northern By-Pass into the area of the former Severalls Hospital near where work on the Colchester Community Stadium is almost complete.

Mr Russell had asked during Transport Questions when the junction would be built.

Responding, the Transport Minister said that work on the junction was dependent first upon development of the adjoining land in North Colchester getting underway - but Mr Russell urged the Minister to meet him to see if funding for the junction could be provided in advance of this.

This is the second time in four years that Mr Russell has challenged the Government over the need for a junction. Indeed, it was only following his intervention in January 2004 - which led to a meeting with then Transport Minister Mr David Jamieson - that approval in principle was given for a junction. It was this approval which enabled planning permission to be given so that the Community Stadium, the new home from next month for Colchester United Football Club, to be built. Without approval for a junction then the Stadium could not have gone ahead.

Commenting afterwards, Mr Russell said he was delighted with the "positive response" from the Minister for his request for a meeting. "Given goodwill all round, I am sure it should be possible for a way to be found to fund the new junction in advance of the sales of the former Severalls Hospital land and land owned by Colchester Borough Council."