BLUEPRINTS for a £3.5 million project to revamp Colchester’s St Botolph’s Circus - including shrinking the roundabout by about 15 per cent - were met with a reluctance from residents who attended a consultation event.

Essex County Council is behind the plans to fill in the roundabout and its underpass in one of the most congested town centre areas.

The carriageway would be altered to allow for three lanes of traffic around the entire roundabout, while the junction to the entrance to the Magistrates’ Court and railway station would be improved.

In addition, two so-called pocket parks would be created, while extra signals and a toucan crossing on the A134 Magdalen Street are also proposed.

The plans bid to address traffic congestion and remove anti-social behaviour from the underpass.

The scheme could start from next spring and is expected to take a year to complete.

Among residents to voice opinions at Colchester Town Hall was Fay Russell, of The Dell, Colchester, who said: “It has got to be done. I often think if people want to get to the other side [of the roundabout], these underpasses are not very nice.

“Widening the road could be great. I am a driver, I know what it is like, but the point being how long is it going to take?”

But Barbara Butler, a town tour guide, said the underpass should remain.

“The anti-social behaviour is not a good enough excuse for closing it.

“London travellers coming into the station, how are they going to get to the Roman Circus?

“The only ones to benefit from this are going to be car drivers and pedestrians are going to lose out.”

Henry Spyvee, Alderman, Former Mayor and councillor, added: “I am concerned about the viability of the Sainsbury’s supermarket [in nearby Priory Walk] which we use all the time and I wouldn’t like to see it lose customers and maybe close.”

Council officers assured residents no work for the scheme would start before the disruptive Ipswich Road area improvements have been completed.

Funding for the project was secured from the Colchester Garrison redevelopment, which specifically has to be used for the St Botolph’s Circus area and before a deadline.

The council says the current proposal is the only solution, with the funding that is available. Filling in the underpass and roundabout alone would cost nearly £1million and it says the scheme “will allow for future improvements”.

Feedback on the scheme can be given until August 2 via bit.ly/2KqYuXi.