Controversial changes to bus route near Braiswick Primary School set to be confirmed by Essex County Council

Essex County Council unveiled plans in September which could see the 63 bus re-routed away from the stop in Tufnell Way in Braiswick, Colchester, close to the newly opened Braiswick Primary School as part of a countywide overhaul launched to try and save £1.5 million.

The buses would instead go to Leisure World on Cowdray Avenue.

Now despite 44 comments against the plans, including representations from the school, councillors and MP Will Quince, Essex County Council looks set to rubber stamp the changes at a meeting on Thursday.

Plans would come into effect from April next year.

The county council’s reasoning behind proceeding with the changes us that pupils and parents will still be able to use the 63 to access the school, however the stop would be 800 metres from the school or use service 66 which stops on nearby Bergholt Road.

Parent of a reception student Alyson Dawes said the proposals would make the area unsafe.

She said: “It is going to put children in danger.

“The only bus which will go anywhere near the school is the 66 which will stop at a place with a three feet wide pavement.

“Most of the parents come from other parts of Colchester and what Essex County Council deems the catchment area because of the lack of school places.

“It feels like they have not been there and looked at it.

“At the moment there are only two reception classes but it is going to get busier and busier.”

Colchester councill for Mile End Martin Goss said: “It is no surprise the county council has come to this decision.

“It looks like a consultation for the sake of consultation and I have seen this type of thing before when it is more like a box ticking exercise and the service is withdrawn as proposed.

“I have already had a number of senior citizens and their children coming to me with their concerns about the withdrawal of the bus service.

“For some, one of the reasons they moved onto the new Braiswick park was because of the nearby bus service to get into town and it could be difficult to get to Bergholt Road.

“It is also a Victorian road with narrow pavements and would not be suitable for groups of congregating children.

“The school’s travel plan involved the 63 bus and I feel very sorry for the parents who are already using the service. The problem will only get worse as the school fills up.”

THE county council’s member for transport Roget Hirst said significant changes had been made to affected services after the consultation.

He said: “The review of local bus services supported by the county council has several aims. It makes efficiency savings by improving the way our contracted services are organised and by persuading bus operators to take on some popular routes currently being supported by the taxpayer commercially.

“At the same time it looks to protect and support local routes offering lifeline links to key services. It also sets out innovative proposals for providing transport in rural areas with a relatively small populations. “We have listened to public feedback following the county-wide consultation on the proposals held in September and October 2015 and this has let us make significant changes to twenty six of the proposed services to better meet passengers’ needs, while allowing us to fine tune some other services.

“Final proposals have now been published and will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting today.  

“Any service changes resulting directly from the review are intended to take place from April 2016.

“The review has required the County Council to balance a wide range of travel needs against the cost to the taxpayer. We believe that the final proposition does this fairly and transparently.”

List of bus service changes in Colchester 

1/1A Greenstead to Ambrose Avenue Mon to Sat - Reduced evening service will begin earlier with late Saturday afternoon journeys cut.

2 Great Horkesley to Severalls Park Mon to Sat - Reduced evening service will begin earlier. Early and late Saturday journeys will be cut.

2 Boxted to Severalls Park Mon to Sat - Service cut and combined with 80 route.

3 Hythe to Town Centre Mon to Fri - Timetable and route revised to serve Cowdray Avenue also.

4 Stanway to Colchester Mon to Fri - Commercial service due to be cut in March and taken on by County Hall.

8E Monkwick to Great Horkesley Mon to Sat- Change to number 8 with reduced evening service starting earlier. Review next year.

11 Highwoods to Colchester Station Mon to Fri - Extra link from Greenstead to Colchester station and north Colchester business parks to be added.

15 Lexden to Colchester Station Mon to Fri - Changed to connect with trains at Marks Tey instead of Colchester Station.

16 Old Heath to St Helena School Mon to Fri school term - Could be cut. Out for tender.

16A Barnhall Estate to St Helena School Mon to Fri school term - Could be cut. Out for tender.

17 West Bergholt to Stanway School Mon to Fri school term - Timings changed.

50 Colchester to Tollesbury Mon to Sat - Services slightly increased.

63 Maypole Estate to Tuffnells Way Mon to Sat - Route cut between The Albert and Tuffnell way and diverted to include Cowdray Avenue and William Harris Way.

64/64a St Michael’s Shurb End to Greensteat - Reduced evening service to begin earlier.

67B West Mersea to Colchester Mon to Sat - Timings changed. Route to include Monkwick.

70 Colchester to Braintree Mon to Sat - Service extended to include Cowdray Centre and Leisure World.

71CX - Colchester to Chelmsford - Timetable changed.

74B Colchester to Clacton Mon to Sat - Some timetable and route changes. Service cut between the town centre and north station.

75 Colchester to Maldon Mon to Sat - Last trips withdrawn.

80 Fordham to Boxted Mon to Fri - Route and timetable changes. Colchester to Fordham section replaced.

88B Colchester to Little Tey Mon to Sat - Service to be replaced with rerouted 83 bus.

88C Aldham to Colchester Mon to Sat - Route and timetable changes. Will include Tollgate retail park and become 83B

92A/B Colchester to Tollesbury - Service to be cut.

104 Colchester to Harwich Mon to Sat - To become 102 with new route including Dedham and Parkeston.

105/10710/9 Colchester to Walton Mon to Sat- To become an hourly service with extra locations.

175 Fingringhoe to Colchester Mon to Sat - Revised timetable.

176 East Mersea to Colchester Mon - Withdrawn.

247/247A Colchester to Dedham Mon to Sat - Renumbered as 81 with commuter journey to Manningtree station added.

602 Colchester to Highwoods schooldays - To become a commercial service.