County council leader Steve Count launched a blistering attack today on house builders Cannon Kirk for failing to build a roundabout at the Gaul Road junction with the A141.

Cllr Count also criticised officers of Fenland Council – where he is also a member- for their failure to be “resolute and timely in pursuing enforcement of the roundabout”.

Cannon Kirk has an application to switch from a roundabout to traffic lights at the junction but Cllr Count believes this is stalling for time.

“The roundabout currently has an enforcement notice served meaning it must be built by April 2017,” he said.

“If traffic lights are approved we could lose the right to enforce and no matter what the timelines proposed are, we could end up in August 2020 with neither a roundabout nor traffic lights built.

“I have objected strongly to this proposal.”

Cllr Count has launched a social media campaign to win support.

He accused Cannon Kirk of broken promises and undermining of the planning committee.

Cllr Count is also highly critical of Fenland planning processes.

He claims an enforcement notice against Cannon Kirk “started two months late, took officers four months to get onto a committee agenda and took six months to issue to the developers.”

He told Fenland Council: “I have said I believe your authority as a committee has already been undermined not just by Cannon Kirk but it is my opinion officers have failed to be resolute and timely in pursuing enforcement of the roundabout

Cllt Count said: “I have no real preference in a roundabout or traffic lights in fact I have in the past believed the traffic lights were the better scheme.

“However, this is not about what is better roundabout or traffic lights, this is about the quickest and surest way to get the improvements built.

“I urge you as the planning committee to refuse this application. In refusing it I beseech you let officers and Cannon Kirk be left in no doubt that you intend to pursue enforcement with every ounce and vigour of your strength.

“Let officers know they are to stop trying to find solutions that benefit the developer but to pursue with the fastest possible course to deliver the solution you have already decided upon, in delivering a safer junction for the people who use it.”