A call has been made for the A120 between Hare Green and Harwich to be upgraded at the same time as the route between Colchester and Braintree.

At a public meeting, Tendring councillors criticised the Lois (London-Ipswich Multi Modal Transport Study) report which proposes a schedule of road development.

Councillors at the East Essex Area Forum at the Marks Tey Hotel in Marks Tey yesterday said current plans to dual the Colchester to Braintree section of the A120 before the Hare Green to Harwich section would create jams and stifle the region's economy.

Following the Lois report Chris Stevenson, transportation planning manager at Essex County Council, said if all the proposals were passed the Transport Minister could inform the Highways Agency to begin planning the schemes.

Planning for the A120 route from Colchester to Braintree could begin as soon as this year although the actual work is unlikely to start until 2010.

However, it is unlikely the Hare Green to Harwich road would be developed before 2015.

Mick Page (Con, Frinton) said: "By dualling the A120 to Braintree you will create room for a lot of extra traffic, but once it gets past Colchester towards Harwich the road will not be able to take the load."

Charles Lumber (Con, Tendring Rural East) said: "It's very, very, important all of the A120 is converted into a dual carriageway.

"It carries important cargo from the ports and is therefore important to the economy not just of the district but the whole county."

Norman Hume, deputy to the cabinet member for highways, said: "I have taken on your comments and we are very keen that we give some additional priority to the A120 scheme between Hare Green and Harwich."

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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