COLCHESTER town centre at the moment lacks cohesion.

Osborne Street is very neglected, with boarded-up commercial premises.

Then on to the main drag of the shopping centre through Vineyard Street car park, one has to negotiate vehicles entering and exiting, cyclists and scooters from left and right, large commercial delivery vehicles using the service entrance under Lion Walk.

Elderly, disabled and those with young children especially have to be extra cautious trying to cross to either side.

Now there is a planning application for a takeaway in a back building next to a taxi cab firm.

There is the Roman Wall on one side, which in other towns and cities would be part of a heritage trail I’m sure.

There have been mutterings for years to redevelop this area, but nothing gets done.

Original plans for shops, eateries would be difficult to justify in today’s online world.

Most of the town seems to be made up of nail bars, hairdressers, barbers and tattoo parlours.

The area now cries out for residential properties with trees and green space areas.

There will always be those who will want to retain the car park, but there are the NCP, St Johns, Priory Street car parks all within a few minutes walking distance.

If Colchester wants its bid to be a city (of which I’m not in favour, we are the oldest recorded town) to be taken seriously and encourage more tourists and visitors, it must progress with the proposals which GT3 architects proposed in 2021, thereby tidying up of this side of Colchester.

S Holt

Pownall Crescent, Colchester