Proposals have been made to alter Crouch Street West in order to accommodate an express cycle route being created from east to west and north to south in Colchester.
I made a banner saying “What do you think?” and added pictures of Essex County Council’s proposals for Crouch Street West.
While standing in that street during part of Saturday, July 24, and Monday, July 26, people stopped and chatted to me. Please note they approached me, I did not approach them.
Those users of the street who were keen to have their opinions relayed to the authorities put a tick or a cross on a sheet to show their like or dislike for the various ideas. There was also a comment strip.
The results:
* New cycle way position – For 9, Against 31
* Subway demolition – For 1, Against 41
* Retaining Herringbone parking – For 30, Against 6
* Proposed Parallel parking – For 3, Against 32
Concerns raised included: The viability of traders and service providers if the reduced parallel parking style was introduced; the ramifications for the A12 and town by-pass snarl-ups if the subway was demolished; the occasional-use nature of the town’s current cycle lanes.
READ MORE:
- Letter: 'Wake up... Colchester is not Chelmsford, nor do we want to be'
- Letter: 'Why didn’t you stop bus station fiasco when you had the chance?'
- Column: ‘Energy bills are due to rise but fear not because help is at hand'
Cars won’t go away. With owners morphing into pollution-light, electric models, their use will grow. It will have to, for ‘the corner shop’ is not being created.
Do we think traders, services and our heritage can be sustained by those with time to walk and cycle into town?
Is it OK that it is mainly car users who access the growing out-of-town sites and amenities?
By making the town centre more pleasurable for cyclists and pedestrians, we should not further destroy its viability, especially after the expenses of Covid.
Annesley Hardy
The Avenue, Colchester
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel