A row over Colchester's road management will lead to chaos, transport chiefs have warned.
Changes to the running of the network have caused a stand-off between Essex County Council and Colchester Council.
Rodney Bass, traffic supremo for the county council, says it will see borough councillors lose all highways powers.
Colchester and Harlow councils are the only local authorities in Essex to snub the Local Service Agreement (LSA).
It would lead to the county council running all through-traffic routes and leave the borough to run residential streets and minor roads.
The current system allows the borough council to make decisions on all of Colchester's routes under county council delegated powers.
With Colchester Council refusing to sign up to the new rules, county councillors with less local knowledge will be left to run the town's roads.
Mr Bass said: "I'm very disappointed. If that's what they want to do, my view is they can't really criticise the county council if the county council doesn't get it right."
Colchester Council transport chief Richard Gower said the cabinet turned its back on the LSA because it will cause confusion.
He said: "The reason the borough council hasn't signed up is because we don't feel it is in the best interests of the residents of the borough of Colchester."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, February 17, 2005
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