‘SERIOUS complaints’ have been made about the effect nightmare roadworks are having on the emergency services and businesses.

Colchester councillors discussed the Ipswich Road roadworks at the town hall.

Lee Scordis (Lab) asked whether the council could approach Essex Highways to ask about speeding the works up.

Martin Goss (Lib Dem), councillor responsible for transport, said he had received three serious complaints about the works. He claimed one of them was from the fire service. 

He said: “The first was as a fire truck could not get through, the second was about disabled access and the third was from a Colchester business about the drop in trade.

“It also came up with the bus companies as it’s had a massive impact on the reliability of services.”

Steve Hartman, operations manager at First Colchester, agreed it had been causing problems.

He said: “The roadworks have been causing us some reliability problems on a few of our services due to the additional congestion generated around the area, especially at peak times of the day.

“Our 61, 62 and 75 services have been more affected than others and with our services being linked across town, it has inevitably had an impact across the whole of the bus network.”

Previously Darius Laws (Cons) raised concerns about highways staff not being on site past 3pm each day.

At the full council meeting Mr Goss explained it was because working 24 hours a day would require further costs and extra crews.

A petition with more than 3,000 signatures is circulating amongst residents, urging Essex County Council to speed up the works.

Helen Chuah (Lib Dem) also raised the issue of St John’s Road, which is being used as a diversion.

She said: “There is a seven tonne weight limit there, and a bridge.

“Heavy vehicles are going down there when they shouldn’t be and something needs to be done.”

Mr Goss said he would take the feedback to his next meeting with Essex county councillor for infrastructure, Kevin Bentley.

Mr Bentley said: “I sympathise greatly with everyone affected by the delays in this area of Colchester, particularly at peak times. The queues are unfortunate, but are an unavoidable consequence of needing to make these vital improvements.”

An Essex County Council representative was due to attend the latest Transport for Colchester meeting to address this issue, however cancelled at the last minute.

Mr Goss said the county council has been kept up to date.

The Gazette contacted the fire service for a comment but did not receive a response.