Where new cycling and walking routes are planned in Colchester

Essex County Council has launched a consultation on the latest stage of its Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme focusing on four towns.

It says residents views will be used to guide the future direction of the strategy and to encourage active travel in Essex.

The consultation has been launched as part of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and forms the first part of the process to implement cycling and walking networks across the county.

In Colchester eight new cycling routes are proposed.

The first, linking Severalls Industrial Estate with the town centre via Mile End, will see a revamp of the Albert and North Station roundabouts.

A similar route will run from Severalls to the town centre via Colchester Hospital with another from the industrial estate via Ipswich Road.

A fourth route from Severalls will run through Greenstead to the University of Essex.

New routes will also link Shrub End, Lexden Road and Colchester Garrison with the town centre.

The university will be linked with the town via the Knowledge Gateway and Hythe Station.

The council also plans to create a Colchester Town Centre Orbital route allowing cyclists to travel safely around the town centre.

Read more:

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• Calls to ditch 'unlawful unnecessary' cycle lanes around Colchester
• New cycle lane in Colchester 'barely used and adding to congestion'

Eight new walking routes are also planned linking the town centre with key locations like the hospital and Colchester North Station.

Kevin Bentley, Essex county councillor responsible for infrastructure, said: “One of the aims of our Safer Greener Healthier campaign is to encourage residents to rethink the way they travel where possible, especially for shorter journeys. The LCWIPs are a significant step towards achieving this.

“Basildon, Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester are all experiencing significant growth pressures and, therefore, prioritising the development of good and safe walking and cycling networks is paramount.

“We want to ensure that new housing and commercial developments have access to excellent walking and cycling infrastructure which in turn enables trips into a wider active travel network.”

Views on the overall network, rather than specific infrastructure changes, are being sought at this stage.

Further consultations will follow in May on specific proposals as part of the Active Travel Fund, from which County Hall has secured £7.4 million, such as already announced proposals to turn the Albert Roundabout into a “Dutch-style” one.

Visit bit.ly/30E853k to take part.