By Roddy AshworthA SPORTS stadium in Colchester could be opened before a new major road junction is built, traffic experts have concluded.For years it was thought that plans for a new community stadium in Colchester would depend upon the construction of a new interchange on the A12, allowing traffic to access the town from the north.

By Roddy Ashworth

A SPORTS stadium in Colchester could be opened before a new major road junction is built, traffic experts have concluded.

For years it was thought that plans for a new community stadium in Colchester would depend upon the construction of a new interchange on the A12, allowing traffic to access the town from the north.

But now transport consultants Savell, Bird and Axon have submitted a draft report, which suggested the existing road network would be able to cope for an interim period without the new interchange.

This report will be discussed with the Highways Agency, who will make the final decision as to whether the proposal should go ahead.

The stadium, which is planned for former NHS land at Cuckoo Farm, would provide a home for Colchester United Football Club as well as a variety of community sports and activities.

Mike Crouch, Colchester Borough Council's executive director, said: “It is a very long report, but our traffic consultants feel they have made a case for the stadium being able to be provided in advance of the junction.

“They have now got to convince the Highways Agency. The consultants seem to be quite convinced it would be feasible, provided it is an interim and not a permanent measure.”

John Jowers, council leader, said: “This is good news and really helps the stadium project.

“It is good to see that all of the hard work everybody involved has been doing in the background has paid off. There are also really good signs that the junction negotiations are reaching a conclusion.

“We are hoping that the period between the stadium and the junction being built will be as short as possible.”

roddy.ashworth@eadt.co.uk