CAMPAIGNERS fear Essex taxpayers could be left to pick up a £70 million bill for a crucial link road to serve a new 9,000 home estate.

They claim the money from the Government for the link road between the A120 and the A133 will be forfeited because the works will not hit the deadline.

However, Essex County Council disputes this and says the work is on target and the money won’t be lost.

Essex County Council submitted plans for the 2.4 km dual-carriageway, which is being built to allow the new town to go ahead on the Tendring and Colchester border, near Elmstead, earlier this year.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

The work will be funded through the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund but including a clause it must be finished by 2024.

Read more: Revised plans are submitted for £70m road connecting 9,000 home new town

But opponents claim the cash pot will be forfeited because the works will not hit the deadline.

In a letter to Essex County Council, National Highways suggests the road will open in 2026.

Rosie Pearson says if the funding is lost, taxpayers in Essex could have to cover the cost or plans for a rapid transit system would have to be scrapped.

She said: “There was no way they were going to be able to do it, the timing has always been too tight.

“They signed up knowing they would have to pay back the HIF money if it wasn’t complete by 2024.

“There were so many clauses in the HIF deal that were so ridiculous no human would ever sign up for, yet they did.

“Now we’re in a situation where the taxpayer has to find £70 million or the promise of a rapid transit system into Colchester is scrapped to cover the costs.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

In a letter from National Highways to Essex County Council, the body admitted modelling work undertaken indicated “there are, potentially, a number of developing problems”.

Mrs Pearson added: “More congestion and approximately 18,000 people moving in is going to worsen Colchester’s climate emergency issues.

“Why doesn’t the council put its money where its mouth is and take proper action to protect the environment.”

However, Essex County Council is adamant the link road “remains on schedule”.

A spokesman said: “The 2026 date referred to in a section of National Highways’ response is in relation to future traffic modelling.

“Traffic modelling is a tool used to ascertain future demands on the road and for the purpose of modelling 2026 was used, as at this point the road will have been in full operation for a year.

“The proposed A120-A133 link road remains on schedule, with a planning decision due in the coming days.

“Essex County Council, has been working in close partnership with the Garden Community team along with Homes England in relation to the HIF and is confident of meeting the requirements of the funding agreement.”