As reported last week, Essex County Council at last withdrew its threat to reverse the direction of traffic flow in Priory Street.

This followed a protracted campaign waged by the Priory Area Residents’ Association.

We would like to thank the many individuals throughout the town who supported our campaign by signing our online and paper petitions and in many other ways.

Both Sir Bob Russell and Will Quince MP intervened on our behalf and our ward councillors, Liberal Democrat and Conservative, argued our case with both borough and county councils.

We are grateful to Colchester Council for taking part and to Essex County Council for listening to our case and changing its policy.

We hope the success of our campaign will encourage other amenity groups to oppose decisions which they feel are detrimental to their wellbeing and to the quality of life in the community.

S Bond Chairman of Priory Area Residents’ Association

  • Jolly good! MP Will was out in China

Last week I wrote a letter to Postbag pointing out that Colchester MP Will Quince had not been in the House of Commons for a crucial vote on Britain’s future following the referendum to leave the European Union.

I asked why he had not explained why he was absent. He has not responded.

However, an article by him in Monday’s Gazette looks like providing the answer. He was on a Parliamentary jolly to China!

Interesting that he should want to suck up to one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, the single-party Communist state of the People’s Republic of China where those who yearn for the democracy and freedoms he enjoys are punished and banished.

There are many matters in Colchester, such as our hospitals and road congestion, which should be a higher priority for our MP’s time than swanning off to China and missing a crucial European vote.

John Banks Gavin Way Colchester

  • Come and see how busy our unit is

MY wife and I very much support moves to save the minor injuries unit at Clacton hospital.

As a weekend housekeeper in the unit I often see it full of many very ill people.

In fact it is quite often packed to the rafters. I wish that the people who will be making the decisions regarding this place would come and see it regularly, not only at weekends but every day for a month.

In doing this they would see just how many extra people could be visiting Colchester General Hospital’s A&E should Clacton’s minor injuries unit be closed, let alone all of the holidaymakers who visit it during the summer.

There are people who visit after having accidents as well as those who visit straight off of the beach.

In the last few years Clacton has very much become a retirement town which means that there are a lot of elderly people who have accidents as well as coming in with illnesses including heart attacks etc.

If the minor injuries unit were to close what will all of these people to if they need help? Probably dial 999.

This will mean that our already poor ambulance service will become even more overstretched and that will in turn mean there will be yet more people’s lives at risk, if there aren’t enough already.

Dudley and Kate Howard Alvis Avenue, Jaywick

  • What makes people commit crime?

To most, the difference between chalk and cheese is obvious, along with good and bad.

So the actions of award-winning Private Dean Haden, of the Parachute Regiment, are to be applauded.

Not so the appalling activity of criminals exposed in the same paper (Gazette, December 21.) Reading the exploits of Private Haden confirms to the public that standards throughout our military services are, as always, equal to the various tasks required.

So we ask what makes certain people to commit criminal acts and become a danger and a burden to society?

Brian Love Gentian Court, Colchester

  • Nativity pictures were a delight

IN an increasingly secular society where many schools are no longer putting on the traditional nativity at Christmas for fear of upsetting non Christians I was very encouraged with the pages of photos of the delightful primary school nativity plays in last week’s Gazette.

Well done to those schools and teachers for upholding our Christian tradition by continuing to produce these lovely plays and well done to the Gazette for printing them.

Frances Pearce Briarfields, Kirby-le-Soken