A NEW bus gate is set to be created banning cars from entering a busy road in Colchester town centre as part of plans to boost walking and cycling in the town.
Essex County Council is consulting on plans for a raft of changes across the town as part of its Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme.
One of the proposals will see all traffic, except buses and cyclists, banned from entering North Station Road from Middleborough and travelling over the river bridge.
Vehicles travelling from Balkerne Hill heading to North Station Road will be forced to travel along Westway and to the notoriously congested Colne Bank roundabout before heading in from the other end, a distance of about three quarters of a mile.
Traffic will still be able to go from North Station Road into Middleborough.
Essex Highways has been accused of hiding the significant scheme in the consultation, with many residents and businesses unaware of the proposed changes.
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Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell, who lives nearby, has personally paid for and hand delivered 750 leaflets in the area to make people aware of the proposals.
He said: “I have gone back to basics – doing what I started doing more than 50 years ago when I was a campaigning young councillor.
“Putting leaflets through letter boxes telling people what is going on or is proposed, keeping them informed, asking them for their views.
“It is elementary. In a democracy, people should be kept informed and their opinions sought.
“Sadly, increasingly officialdom does little to nothing to engage with the people they are supposed to be serving.
“The sort of behaviour which happens in Communist China and other non-democracies around the World, an attitude sadly now common-place in this country.
“I am astonished the plans to make North Station Road ‘no entry’ from Middleborough have been bubbling away for 12 months without anyone bothering to engage with the community.
“This is breath-taking arrogance and shows a total disregard to residents and businesses in the North Station Road area.
”Frankly, I should not have to do this. Essex County Council should have produced a leaflet and distributed it. It should not be left to someone aged 75 to do what the county council has failed to do.”
Essex Highways insists no decisions have been made on changes designed to boost active travel in Colchester.
County Hall says residents and businesses’ views will be taken into account during the consultation before final plans are implemented.
A spokesman said: “The nonstatutory consultation being run at the moment is the first opportunity to have your say on the proposals for Colchester.
“On North Station Road, this is not simply about reducing traffic, but also about investing in the look and feel of this part of the town, creating a more attractive neighbourhood environment which supports business while also increasing walking and cycling in the area.
“We have worked closely with community and business representatives through our steering group to get to this point.
“The consultation is very much about listening and there will be further engagement with businesses in the future as well as ongoing work with the borough council.
“For those unable to access the consultation online, hard copies are available. Please ring 0345 743 0430 to request a copy.”
Lee Scott, councillor responsible for highways maintenance and sustainable transport, added: “I thank Sir Bob for his interest in the Active Travel Consultation for Colchester and I would emphasise the best way for everyone to make their view heard is to engage with the consultation.
“We’re all aiming to create an excellent sustainable travel network for the town.”
To take part in the consultation, which also proposes two new east to west and north to south cycle routes linking the town centre, visit bit.ly/3gSYqhX.
It closes on July 11.
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