I WRITE in response to Richard Hart’s letter regarding cycling in Colchester.

Having spent a decade living in Copenhagen and since returning to this once fine town, I feel I have a good knowledge of what’s what regarding the iron horse and Shanks’s pony.

I have taken up cycling again here as I work in Colchester again and can honestly say the infrastructure for cycling is second-rate at best.

These shared routes are an absolute disaster as pedestrians and cyclists just don’t mix well.

I consider myself to be one of the “real cyclists” he talks of but I use the shared routes where possible, as riding on the road is risking your life, as car drivers have zero respect for cyclists and see them as a nuisance.

I wear a hi-vis, helmet, have a bell which I use and have flashing lights on all the time and still cars don’t seem to (want to) see me.

The shared paths don’t seem to have a uniform pattern to follow and, anyway, people just walk wherever they want, not hearing my bell as they are on the phone or with headphones in.

The point to all this is, that cars, pedestrians and cyclists need separating as in the Scandinavian/Dutch model.

Only by doing it this way will we encourage more people to drop the car, and instead cycle and/or walk.

The amount of development going on in this town will only make the situation worse in future.

So come on Colchester Council, make the developers pay more towards better cycling and walking infrastructure so we can all have a healthier, happier life in this once pleasant town of ours.

J Hillman Hythe, Colchester

  • Bishops’ views are still out of date

On Friday, January 27, after two years of consideration, and in so-called partnership with the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (of which I have been a member since it started in 1976) and other LGBT organisations, the Church of England Bishops failed to make any progress and gave a hugely disappointing decision.

They confirmed that marriage is only for male-female relationships and made no concessions to the huge range of other sexual alternatives which are evident in our human relationships today.

The conservatism of the Church of England Bishops in this matter may be understandable to some extent. The church is a “broad church” and to ensure that it survives as a unity requires compromise.

Unfortunately, it was the more conservative bishops who made no concessions to the real situation on the ground.

Today, most people acknowledge that life is more complicated than a simple “male-female” understanding of human sexuality.

Given that the Bishops were always unlikely to agree to same-sex marriage, at least some concessions must have been obvious?

I believe that the Bishops should at least have agreed to offer authorised Orders of Service of Blessing for those who had been engaged in same-sex civil marriage or civil partnerships.

This was the time to move forward and recognise the reality of life in our world today.

Sadly, the opportunity was spurned and the Church of England Bishops are increasingly out of touch with reality.

Thankfully, there are more enlightened members of the church in the pews. It is not enough for us to quote the Book of Genesis and say that “male and female created he them.” That may have been the view 3,000 years ago, but we live in the now.

We need to grasp and enjoy that now.

My hope is that more open-minded people will get engaged with their local church and help move us on to a better vision of love and acceptance for all people, whatever their sexual orientation. We can do it.

Prebendary Neil Richardson, Notley Road, Braintree

  • Be more honest on new school plans

I WRITE in reply to Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for education at Essex County Council, and his response to my original letter, regarding the proposed doubling in size of some primary schools in Colchester.

I notice his only argument seems to be a financial one, with the need to provide “value for money”. He says nothing to contradict my points about doubling the traffic congestion or the creation of super-sized, impersonal institutions where the youngsters can feel unrecognised by both other pupils and staff members.

I understand more classrooms would have to be built, but he remains silent to the indisputable fact that unless more adjacent land is purchased, twice the number of people would be working in the same amount of physical space.

Inevitably this would mean building on playing fields and green areas.

The National Union of Teachers is very aware money for education, in real terms, is being cut.

So perhaps Cllr Gooding should be more honest and say that, in one of the richest countries in Europe, we are not prepared to pay for purpose-built schools that have been planned in advance of population growth.

Jean Quinn Public Relations Officer National Union of Teachers King Stephen Road, Colchester

  • Nuclear strategy concerns

We learn Will Quince MP has visited Copeland in Cumbria for the parliamentary by-election. 

He wrote in the Telegraph of the importance up there for local jobs of the only major local employer: the Sellafield nuclear power and reprocessing complex, formerly Windscale, which employs 10,000 people. 

Sellafield is also important for health and safety reasons, and pollution. It is Europe’s nuclear dustbin, where spent reactor fuel is reprocessed. 
I hope Mr Quince took the time to explain to local people why he and his Conservative colleagues are voting for Brexatom –  the Tory Government’s intended withdrawal of this country from the European Atomic Energy Community, Euratom for short – and what the Government proposes in its place. 

The Government’s intention was not announced; it is mentioned in a note to the so-called Brexit Bill going through Parliament with our MP’s obedient support. 

As we in Colchester have a nuclear power complex a few miles away as the crow flies at Bradwell, we have a strong interest in this. 

The Euratom Treaty is about many things related to the nuclear power industry. One of them is safety. 

Euratom plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with international nuclear safeguards. 

In particular, Article 37 contains pioneering provisions regarding environmental impact and the protection of humans, which are relevant to the dismantling of nuclear reactors. 

The Windscale Fire in October 1957 – six months after the Euratom Treaty was originally signed by neighbouring countries, though not the UK – released a radioactive cloud into the atmosphere contaminating everything in its way across the North of England. 

It was Britain’s worst nuclear accident. 

What provisions will replace Euratom to minimise the chance of another disaster? 
Jo Hayes Greens Yard, Colchester

  • Rodent infestation no surprise

LAST week I had a letter printed under the heading “Bus Station is key for Priory Walk”.

I also bemoaned the fact that as soon as retail shops close, they then open up as coffee or fast food outlets.

Imagine my surprise when I read in this same paper Oasis is closing and will be replaced by a hamburger outlet. 

No wonder we have an infestation of rats and mice (another article in the same paper) in the High Street with the number of food outlets that are there.

What more can I say?

Bette Clements Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green

  • Now commission has got to reveal its plans

Now that some progress is being made on the British Brexit direction, I wonder whether the EU will now outline their objectives and strategy for the negotiations. 

Maybe Tim Farron and his comrades would like to press the European Commission for further likewise information. 

Stephen Scrase Wakes Colne