24 November 2022 Consultation

Consultation on East Hill walking and cycling improvements

Plans designed to make it safer and easier to travel into Colchester city centre.

A consultation has opened on the first stages of a new walking and cycling route linking Colchester city centre, the University of Essex and Greenstead.

Led by Essex County Council (ECC) and supported by Colchester City Council’s Town Deal funding, the consultation looks at the first stage of the route along East Hill.

Making it safer and easier to travel into and from the city centre, the plans include proposals for segregated cycleways along East Hill, new crossing facilities, raised sections on side roads to help accessibility, new bus stops, revised parking arrangements and improved cycle crossing at the Guildford Road Junction.

Welcoming the launch of the consultation, Cllr Lee Scott, ECC Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said: “This is the first stage of an exciting opportunity to better link the University and Greenstead with the centre by providing improved sustainable transport infrastructure.

“Following development of our Cycling and Walking Strategy, we know if we provide good, safe, quality links between key points in the city, and also connect them with the wider walking and cycle network, we can encourage people to get out of their car, help people to more easily access the city centre and improve health, air quality and the wider environment.”

The wider plans for the route include new cycle parking in the city centre and a planned bike loan scheme in Greenstead.

Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “The new walking and cycling scheme is a very welcome and important part of our Town Deal funding. It will make low-cost access to the city centre possible which helps ensure it continues to thrive. While enabling residents to travel more sustainably, helping access to employment, leisure and all our city centre has to offer and helping air quality and individual health and wellbeing.”

Cllr Scott added: “This is a scheme with great potential. At this stage of the process we are focussing on East Hill and I would like to thank the organisations and groups who have helped to shape the design to this point. We now want to hear from the public and businesses about the scheme which will help further refine our plans.”

The consultation will run until 8 January. Details can be found at online.