North Station Road: Campaigners' bid to halt bus gate plans

Essex County Council is consulting on plans to set up a new bus gate banning cars and vehicles like taxis from entering North Station Road from Middleborough.

The plans are part of a wider raft of changes planned for Colchester as part of County Hall’s Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme to encourage active travel.

However, residents and business owners are concerned the changes will force anyone travelling to North Station Road from the town centre to take a diversion of more than half a mile along the already congested Westway and Colne Bank roundabout.

Business owner Susan Soormally is leading a campaign to try to halt the plans. Almost 100 people have already signed a petition and objection letter.

It says three traffic signs which guide business traffic in the area have already been removed.

“A consultation process which fails to properly consult those directly affected is no consultation at all, and for this kind of major change to be decided on during the Covid pandemic when the community is less able to get together is scandalous,” it says.

“The community welcomes investment in North Station Road, which is a gateway to the town centre, but this proposal could be catastrophic for local businesses.”

The letter adds: “Due to not being aware not having been consulted we have had no time to inspect much of the consultation materials.

“Therefore, this objection letter has been composed in haste, it may not include all pertinent arguments against the proposals and signatories would likely be in far greater numbers.”

Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s former MP, hand delivered and paid for 800 leaflets to inform residents and has submitted a Freedom of Information request to County Hall asking what consultation took place before the plans were drawn up.

Essex County Council has said no decisions have yet been made on the proposals, with the consultation ongoing.

Visit bit.ly/3gSYqhX to see the consultation.