Petition against closure of bus lane off Colchester estate

Olympic Boulevard in Mile End had bus gate enforcement signs and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras installed in 2015.

However it was confirmed that no penalty charges have been issued since it was put in place. 

Instead drivers have used the entrance on to Rosewood estate to save making an unnecessary diversion. 

But now Essex County Council plans to close off Olympic Boulevard to all vehicles. 

Bus - The bus gate had been equipped with cameras but has not been enforced to this day (Image: Newsquest)

A petition against the closure was submitted on behalf of residents, arguing that the closure would make it impossible for emergency vehicles to access the estate. 

Further, the petition claims that increased traffic and pollution, as well as declining property values would be a result of the closure. 

Stella Mensah, 43, said: “It would be a very long diversion around the estate to get to our home if they close it off. I

"think it is not a good idea. The estate has been built that way, so there should be access on this side, too.” 

Resident Paula Howell, 40, agreed, as she is already seeing the increase in traffic with the roadworks on the A12. 

She said: “It’s going to be a nightmare because of the traffic from the A12. With the access cut off, it is going to be even worse to get on the estate.” 

Others have been deeply disappointed that Rosewood never received a bus service in the first place. 

Louisa White, 90, said: “Mill Road has become a car park and day by day we are suffering the extra pollution.

"Without the promised bus service, the estate entirely relies on car traffic, and for ten years we have been led to believe there will be a bus service. 

“Rosewood could have been a relief road attractive for the people to use, or at least for the buses. Sometimes, it is impossible to get out of the cul-de-sac and we’re terrified of the increasing traffic from the Northern Approach development already.” 

Closure - This part of the road has been proposed to be closed off (Image: Newsquest)

The plans by ECC also include introducing a No Waiting at Any Time Restriction and 20mph Zone on a number of roads on the estate. 

In the statement of reason, the council said: “The developers of the site have currently put in place an informal bus gate on Olympic Boulevard as part of the planning conditions, however, it is agreed with the Essex County Council (ECC) strategic team that this will be replaced with a "No Entry" except cyclists since there will not be any bus services as previously proposed.” 

Other residents, however, argue that the closure of Olympic Boulevard will make the area safer and help strengthen property values, with the road remaining a non-main road. 

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The measures proposed for this part of Colchester have been carefully considered to create a safer environment for residents and visitors. They include speed restrictions, parking restrictions and traffic calming measures to rework traffic flow, especially where pedestrians and vehicles use the same road space.

“We are committed to ensuring we provide communities with safer, greener and healthier environments, and our proposals for Olympic Boulevard support this aspiration.”