Active travel proposals for key route in Colchester to be reviewed after consultation with residents and businesses in the area.
Plans to revamp Crouch Street in Colchester aimed at improving walking and cycling provision will be reviewed after Essex County Council (ECC) listened to public feedback.
Proposals drawn up for Crouch Street would’ve seen new cycleway provision, improved public realm and crossing points, as well as a reduction in the amount of parking in the area.
The changes were drawn up under ECC’s Safer, Greener, Healthier campaign with the scheme set to be funded following the County Council’s successful £7.4 million bid to the Government’s second Active Travel Fund (ATF2).
As part of the process to implement the proposed changes, Essex Highways held a consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for Crouch Street earlier this year.
Following analysis of the feedback received from hundreds of residents and businesses, a decision has been made not to sign off the TRO. The proposals will now be reviewed to assess how residents’ concerns can be taken into account.
ECC remains committed to the objectives of its Safer, Greener, Healthier campaign and improving cycling and walking provision for residents in this part of Colchester.
Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Members for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, met with businesses in Crouch Street earlier this month to discuss their concerns directly.
He said: “I would like to thank Colchester residents for their continued engagement with our proposals for Crouch Street.
“We have listened to all the points that have been raised with us in relation to the scheme and as a result we will be reviewing the plans for Crouch Street to see if there are alternative proposals which would address these concerns, but still help deliver improvements to walking and cycling provision in the area.
“We remain committed to improving cycling and walking provision in this part of Colchester and across Essex, and will continue to develop plans to make Essex Safer, Greener, Healthier.”
Notes to editors:
In November 2020, ECC submitted a successful bid for £7.4 million from the Government’s second Active Travel Fund (ATF2).
The objectives of the ATF2 were to help local authorities implement measures to create an environment that is safer for both walking and cycling.
The funding secured is being used to deliver five schemes across Essex to improve walking and cycling in Basildon (Wickford), Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Colchester.
More information on the Active Travel Fund proposals for Essex is available at: https://www.essexhighways.org/active-travel-fund.