A RADICAL solution will be sought for one of Colchester's most notorious roundabouts as part of a major consultation on a key road.The move comes as Essex County Council prepares for a significant overhaul of the A133 that travels east to west through the town.

A RADICAL solution will be sought for one of Colchester's most notorious roundabouts as part of a major consultation on a key road.

The move comes as Essex County Council prepares for a significant overhaul of the A133 that travels east to west through the town.

One of the major congestion issues to be addressed is that on the Greenstead roundabout, which consists of five mini-roundabouts encircling a larger central hub.

Designed to ease pressure on the eastern approaches to the town, congestion at rush hour is heavy with one of the feeder roads - Clingoe Hill - jamming up every morning.

Further problems are encountered daily by motorists along the whole stretch of the A133/Avenue of Remembrance route, including the Albert roundabout, Ipswich Road roundabouts and Harwich Road roundabouts.

But some concerns have been raised about the future of trees running along the avenue, which were planted in memory of Colchester's war dead, if the road were to be improved.

The town is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment, and large-scale investment is planned in a number of regeneration projects over the next ten years, including the provision of thousands more homes.

Essex County Council has conducted research and concluded the A133 corridor from Lexden to Greenstead is already at capacity, even before the town's planned population rise.

Major highways improvement schemes are being investigated to improve the traffic flow along the A133 over the next 15 years.

Yesterday it was promised the utmost would be done to minimise the removal of trees growing along the Avenue of Remembrance, and pledged there would be a comprehensive new planting programme.

Rodney Bass, county council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We are working hard, together with Colchester Borough Council, to allow for the widening of the A133 while considering concerns about how the plans would impact on the trees along The Avenue of Remembrance.

“We need to make this road into a dual carriageway but we will do our best to preserve the trees in this area.

“These proposals aim to tackle the growing issue of congestion in Colchester and are key to keeping this town moving in the future.”

Elizabeth Blundell, Colchester Borough Council's cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: “By working closely with the County Council on the proposals for Park and Ride and the A133 we can all be assured that all options will be fully evaluated and consulted upon before any decisions are taken.

“We thoroughly appreciate how important these trees are to the relatives of the fallen and many other residents in the borough.

“By making improvements to the A133 it will help us to tackle congestion in other parts of the town centre which is so important to keeping Colchester on the move.”