Town Centre improvements soon

Essex County Council is nearing completion of studies which will allow it to unveil its Town Centre Improvement - the new name for the Historic Core Zone scheme.

This project has at its heart the possibility of a car-free High Street, though nothing is being confirmed by the county as yet.

CCC was pressing for a High Street and Head Street that was two-way for cyclists.

We have been assured that "there will be a north-south and an east-west route that people can cycle" - which is brilliant news.

Anyone unfamiliar with the intricacies of cycling in the town centre should consider how, under the present layout, they get from the bottom of North Hill to Lexden Road/Maldon Road, or from the castle to Head Street - change is needed!

The Historic Core Zone scheme was mooted eight years ago. The county took it over from the borough about three years ago, then it transferred from Essex's local office to its major schemes department.

Because of Colchester's Roman layout, plus congestion on the edge of town centre, any changes will need to look at traffic controls as far out as the Brook Street junctions.

Over the years, parts of the scheme have been rumoured to include:

:: buses/bikes/taxis only up North Hill
:: a car-free high street
:: a motor-vehicle free High Street (ie buses banned, too)
:: two-way cycle use along Crouch Street
:: changes to the Butt Road crossroads with Southway
:: restrictions on use of East Hill

Naturally, CCC welcomes anything which improves cycling in and around the town centre. While cars use dual carriageways on Balkerne Hill and subway, the old town is still the hub of our cycling network!