A freelance trouble-shooter has been drafted in to make the western relief road happen - 16 years after it was first mooted.

Neil Taylor has been working with Colchester Council since February to look at why so many of its major projects were "bottle-necking".

Now, John Jowers, the new Conservative leader of the council, has told him to put the bypass at the top of his list.

Mr Taylor had been focusing on the St Botolph's redevelopment and the park-and-ride schemes at Stanway and Cuckoo Farm.

Mr Jowers said: "It the need for a western bypass came out very clearly when canvassing in Stanway. It does seem rather strange that, with the Garrison development full steam ahead, all the bulk of the traffic is being shunted around Blackberry Road and yet, 16 years ago, we said we'd build a western bypass."

Published Friday July 23, 2004

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