Colchester: Motorist slams 'unsafe' St Andrews Avenue roundabout

Matthew Ford, 26, of Colchester, owns M Ford Plumbing and often drives his work van around the city.

He has expressed his "hatred" for the roundabout on St Andrews Avenue after his van and another vehicle were involved in a collision.

Not happy - Matthew Ford (Image: Newsquest) Mr Ford is thankful no one was hurt, but now requires a new door and front wing for his van.

He said: “It is one of the most unsafe roundabouts I have seen - the amount of accidents I see and near misses at that roundabout.

“It is so poorly designed, it flowed really well before it was done.

“It is the one roundabout I hate, and I use it all the time.

Road - St Andrew's Avenue (Image: Google Maps)

“Even the mini roundabouts near Clingoe Hill, which are appalling, are safer. People know when they can pull out and it has never been changed.

“Either they go back to the original format or invest in some sort of traffic light system to make it flow better.”

Recently a driver was filmed approaching the roundabout from Harwich Road and going the wrong way round.

And earlier this year, cycling campaigners and medics called for action to make the junctions leading to St Andrew’s Avenue roundabout safer.

Round the roundabout - more vehicles in St Andrew's Avenue (Image: Google Maps)

In 2022, 272 people were injured in road traffic collisions in Colchester, and one of the worst areas for the numbers of incidents was St Andrew’s Avenue.

Both the roundabout along St Andrew's Avenue and the nearby Ipswich Road Roundabout were part of a controversial £6.5 million roadworks scheme.

They were converted from double roundabouts into larger single roundabouts.

St Anne's and St John's ward councillor Natalie Sommers understands the design concerns.

She said: "I do think there are issues with the design. The inner 'red zone' is confusing as to whether you can go into it or not.

Ward councillor - Councillor Natalie Sommers (Image: Newsquest)

"For those locals who are familiar with the layout, it's not too much of a problem, but for others I can see why it causes a problem."

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “Our road safety engineering team has started an annual review of collisions across the county in order to draw up a programme of road safety improvements for the next financial year.

"This will include a review of St Andrew’s Avenue Roundabout.

“Essex Highways has limited funding for engineering measures, therefore this is used at locations where there is a police-identified collision pattern.

“The best way for residents who are concerned about local safety issues is to raise them with their local Essex County Councillor.

"They can then raise the matter for action as appropriate.”

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