CLAIMS an £18million road extension would create 1,700 jobs may have been doubted – even mocked. But there is now the realisation this could happen.

Roscommon Way extension opened on Canvey last week. It was originally supposed to cost £14.9million, but the figure escalated, following months of delays, to about £18million.

It was jokingly dubbed “the road to nowhere” by residents who struggled to see the benefits of the scheme, linking the old Roscommon Way and Haven Road.

It was felt the money would have been better spent on a long-awaited third road off Canvey, to reduce rush-hour congestion. But the new road has already led to several employment schemes being created.

In-fact, things are going so well Castle Point Council’s chief executive David Marchant estimates it will help create at least 2,000 jobs – 300 more than previous estimates.

A business park is planned on 25 acres of green fields to the south of the new road. The National Grid is in the process of selling the site to an unnamed developer who wants to build an estate, creating about 600 jobs.

The site was allocated as long-term employment land by Castle Point Council in 1998.

Canvey Conservative councillor Ray Howard has revealed plans for another 600 jobs through a new green technologies science and business park on 20 acres between Morrisons supermarket, off Northwick Road, Canvey, and Roscommon Way.

The council hopes this will provide administration services and an engineering and research base for environmentally sustainable industries, such as wind farms and solar panels.

He said: “Everything is starting to happen now we’ve improved transport links for that part of Canvey. It’s going to be a really important source of employment for Canvey people.”

Supermarket giant Morrisons is pushing ahead with a new retail park, next to its supermarket, where about 100 will be employed. Mr Marchant also believes about 700 posts will be created through transformation of Charfleets Industrial Estate. It used to be accessed only from Canvey Road, but the new road has opened up access at its other end.

Mr Marchant said: “We hope more retail and office-based businesses will move to what used to be the back end of Charfleets Estate, but now faces Roscommon Way extension.

“Until now, you’ve tended to get heavy industry sites at the back of the estate, such as car breakers, which take up a lot of space but don’t employ many people.

“It isn’t just the new road we hope will draw more employers to Charfleets, it’s improved security with CCTV, better lighting and much-improved general environment. With other business parks that will hopefully spring up around the extension, the whole area should become an attractive proposition for business.”

He added the improvements should not be viewed from a “little island perspective”.

He added: “It’s not just about how this will affect local firms. We want to attract big businesses from all over the country, who will create large numbers of jobs for local people.”

Tracy Chapman, Essex county councillor responsible for highways, said there would be improvements for people living near Charfleets.

She said: “A lot of lorries, headed for Charfleets, passed through residential areas. Now they will mostly be going round the back, along Roscommon Way, where no-one lives. That will improve air quality and create a nicer environment for residents.”

She was also proud of the new bridleway which runs alongside the extension.