A POPULAR riverside walking route will be off limits for several weeks to protect the public after the quayside started collapsing.

Part of the River Colne quayside, on the south side of Haven Road, Colchester, has started subsiding, with the metal steering attached to the bank starting to detach from the banks.

The section of the river bank is near to Anglian Water’s sewage works, behind CTruk Marine Services Ltd, and part of the waterside walking route between Colchester and Rowhedge.

The footpath is popular with dog walkers but will have to be closed for several weeks whilst repairs are assessed and completed as there is no suitable diversion route by the banks of the River Colne.

Barriers and signs were put up in the area on Friday to stop residents entering the area.

One resident raised the alarm with the authorities after noticing the steel steering along the quayside was gradually deteriorating in condition.

He said: “It has got considerably worse over the past week.

“All the steel steering holding the quay has dramatically failed and is collapsing into the river.

“I am worried there is going to be an accident down there.

“You can imagine what would happen if someone was walking down there when the quay collapsed.

“It is going to be a big civil engineering job to fix and could be expensive.”

Colchester Council began investigating the footpath last week and moved to close the area to the public on Friday.

A spokesperson said: “We are aware of a subsidence issue affecting a section of riverbank along the River Colne, on land owned by the council on the south side of Haven Road.

“We apologise for any disruption and inconvenience this work will cause and advise the public to put safety first and avoid this stretch of riverbank until repairs are completed and the path reopens.”

Gazette:

  • A map showing the affected area

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the area was protected from flooding and it would be down to the landowner to complete the repairs.

He added: “Quay sides can play an important in reducing flood risk.

“However, in this case, the area is protected by our tidal flood barrier at Wivenhoe so the damage will not increase flood risk to the Hythe Quay area of Colchester.

“We have shared details of the damage with Colchester Council and Essex County Council so they can pursue this issue further.”