COLCHESTER Council has opposed plans to reverse the route of traffic along a town centre road.

Essex County Council is looking at changing the one-way route of Priory Street in Colchester.

Rodney Bass, the council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said he wanted cars to enter Priory Street from East Hill instead of Queen Street as this would increase the use of the car park and stop people performing dangerous U-turns on East Hill.

But Dominic Graham, portfolio holder for street and waste services at Colchester Council, said: “We have been asking Essex County Council to explain the reversal and their evidence supporting it, but it just hasn’t arrived.

“With that in mind, we simply can’t support proposals for reversal on Priory Street."

He added: “I have confirmed this with the residents’ association.

“Hopefully Essex County Council will listen to concerned residents and concerns of Colchester Council and come up with a proposal that suits everybody.”

Mr Graham wrote to the county council saying the borough council will oppose the proposed reversal unless the county council can provide evidence the scheme will improve access to Priory Street and reduce congestion in the town centre.

Mr Graham said: “I asked what studies they had done to support the proposal and the answers have been short and lacking in detail.

“There’s a lot more work that needs to be done and sufficient homework needs to be carried out.”

Stewart Bond, chairman of the Priory Street Residents’ Association, welcomed the support from the borough council.

He said: “It has helped our cause tremendously as there is virtually no one in the town who supports the reversal. We are so confident and we hope the county council sees that and it will help them make the right decision.”

Mr Bass said: “We have been consulting on the possibility of reversing the flow of traffic in Priory Street, as we believe it might improve access to the Priory Street car park and St Botolph’s Quarter development, with its forthcoming Curzon cinema, hotel and restaurants, while providing benefits to traffic flow and safety.

“It is important to stress no decision has yet been made as we continue to discuss the proposals with local stakeholders.

“Any proposed change would be undertaken so as to be consistent with our strategy of improving transport and supporting the economy in Colchester.”