A HEADTEACHER has warned children’s safety will be put at risk if plans to reverse the flow of Colchester’s Priory Street go ahead.

Essex County Council plans to change access to the one-way street from Queen Street to East Hill.

The move is part of plans to prepare the town centre for the opening of Colchester’s park and ride, on Monday, April 13.

Bridget Harris, headteacher at St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School, in Priory Street, said the plans would be a danger to children.

She said: “I am still in a state of disbelief.

“You start to wonder if they are doing these things to ruin Colchester.

“Reversing the traffic flow will make it terribly dangerous for children and a nightmare for residents, who at the moment live in a relatively quiet street.”

“There are 210 children crossing that road every morning and afternoon and the county council doesn’t seem to understand that.

“We’re not saying it’s going to be the M25, but there will certainly be a build up of traffic.”

Mrs Harris said she only became aware of the plans by reading the Gazette, adding she had attempted to contact Essex Highways to discuss the proposed change, but no operators knew about it.

She said the change would also make parents alter their route because the only way they can exit the street is into Queen Street, and then use either Southway and Westway to get to the A12, or Cowdray Avenue, or try to use the notoriously congested Brook Street.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for highways at Essex County Council, said the reversal of traffic in Priory Street would help make the park and ride a success.

He also said too many people were doing dangerous U-turns in Cowdray Crescent, or Lewis Gardens to access Queen Street, because cars cannot turn into that road from the High Street.

Mrs Harris said: “That’s because of an Essex County Council decision and the simple thing to do would be to let people turn right into Queen Street.”

Highways bosses have proposed using an 18-month experimental traffic order to make the change, which means they do not need to carry out a full consultation.

If a permanent change is proposed, there will be a period of consultation.

Mrs Harris has vowed to back objections made by the Priory Residents’ Association, which has already, collected hundreds of signatures.

It is understood residents also have the backing of the Colchester Islamic Cultural Association, which is based in Priory Street, as well as businesses and the Priory Lodge care home.

Essex County Council declined to comment further on the scheme.