HOME Secretary Priti Patel has called on Highways England to push on with a decision on widening the A12.
Ms Patel, who is standing for the Conservatives in the General Election, has urged the organisation’s chief executive to choose a route while blaming “ill thought through housing plans” between Kelvedon and Marks Tey for the delay.
In a statement, Ms Patel blamed the Liberal Democrat-led Colchester Council stating: “With Highways England now being forced to consult on part of the scheme again it is clear from the responses received residents and communities want to see diggers in the ground and the work starting based on the 2017 consultation.
“Colchester Council’s meddling has gone too far and it’s time Highways England made a decision on the route and moved this scheme forward.”
Colchester Council leader Mark Cory has consistently dismissed Ms Patel’s comments as political manoeuvring, previously saying: “She’s only criticising us because we’re not Conservative-controlled."
The other parliamentary candidates for Witham are Martin Edobor (Lab), Sam North (Lib Dem) and James Abbott (Green).
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