St Botolph's Circus Colchester plans receive support

Essex County Council and Colchester Council have revealed a joint masterplan to overhaul St Botolph’s Circus.

The roundabout connects several key routes to the city centre and to its magistrates court, bus and train stations.

A public consultation has been launched for residents to have their say on the new plan to remove the roundabout and its underpass and install a crossroad layout.

New look - how St Botolph's Circus could look under the plans (Image: Essex County Council / Colchester Council)

At a crossroads - the roundabout could be scrapped and replaced by a crossroad layout (Image: Essex County Council / Colchester Council)

Segregated cycle paths and walkways are also planned, encouraging people to have a greener mindset towards travel.

The works will be paid for by £19.6 million Levelling Up Fund cash secured from the Government in January.

Colchester MP Will Quince said the roundabout has been “in desperate need of an overhaul for years”, adding: “I’m pleased that plans are underway to transform this area.”

In a video shared to his Twitter account, Mr Quince said: “St Botolph’s roundabout and its underpass have been in need of investment for quite some time.

Pleased - Colchester MP Will Quince (Image: Newsquest)

Busy - the roundabout at St Botolph's Circus (Image: Newsquest)

“So close to the city’s central train station and historic centre of Colchester, this is a prime location.

“Thanks to the Government’s levelling up funding there are major plans to transform this area and bring about substantial public realm improvements, unlock land for urban regeneration and improve traffic flow.

“This is Government investment bringing about real, visible change here in Colchester.”

Castle ward councillor Mark Goacher said he “mostly” supports the blueprints but called on further green space to be created.

Work to be done - Castle ward councillor Mark Goacher (Image: Newsquest)

“At the moment the road is a death trap for cyclists and I can see how there might be accidents as there is a lot of bad driving on it,” he said.

“I am certainly supportive of the idea of making it more cycle friendly.

“The underpass has had issues with anti-social behaviour and I personally don’t use them, especially later on at night, so there is a lot in this plan which improves things.”

But Mr Goacher called on the councils to axe plans for a building to be constructed at the bottom of Mersea Road and instead “green” the land.

He added: “The one big negative is the plan is not very green in terms of nature.”