The organisation called Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex is inaccurately named.

It is actually campaigning for urban sprawl to the east of Colchester – to the east of Greenstead and Longridge estates.

What Cause is against is development in the Marks Tey area and to the west.

It is perfectly entitled to campaign against that, but it is distorting the words of the name of its organisation because its is promoting urban sprawl elsewhere.

It is also being dishonest in wanting to promote urban sprawl somewhere else in preference to development where it is located.

By all means campaign against the so-called West Tey “garden village” but it should not do so by promoting urban sprawl several miles away to the east of urban Colchester.

Cause is so keen to promote urban sprawl to the east of Colchester it actually attended a meeting of Tendring Council’s Local Plan Committee, held in Clacton Town Hall, where it spoke in support of urban development to the east of Colchester.

Cause went to all that trouble to promote urban sprawl. I know, because I was there and heard their representative speak.

Let me also nail the myth that Middlewick Ranges, which the Ministry of Defence wishes to dispose of, is a “brownfield” site which some are claiming should become a major housing estate between Old Heath and Monkwick in south Colchester.

The claims are made in order to reduce new housing where they live.

Colchester Council has confirmed to me Middlewick is not a brownfield site.

Urban Colchester needs to save what it can of its remaining few undeveloped areas.

Urban Colchester needs to keep Middlewick as an oasis. Further, the road links from Old Heath and Monkwick into town are already overloaded.

Sir Bob Russell Catchpool Road, Colchester

  • Flyover will just move congestion

Plans at Colchester North station for a (triple-decker!) flyover or an underpass for cars will not “bust congestion” but simply move it a little further down the road requiring many more expensive remedial schemes in the future.

The real expense of the schemes are therefore much greater than the proposals might suggest. Cities such as Los Angeles are still gridlocked despite 10 lane highways in each direction.

Your readers may remember the photograph published last year of the biggest traffic jam in history spreading over 50 lanes in Beijing.

The point is cars take up too much space.

Although Colchester does not have a large population it does have a restricted road network.

The solution should not to scar it further with ugly road schemes, but instead remove the congestion by deterring car use and facilitating alternative modes of travel.

At the hospital we are trying to encourage more active transport.

This is in line with government attempts to improve health by encouraging cycling and walking and public transport.

This offers the prospect of reducing morbidity and mortality through reducing air pollution, road danger, obesity and diabetes.

However its efforts will have limited impact until Essex County Council makes access routes to the hospital safe and pleasant for those who want to leave their cars at home.

Developing underpasses, but only for pedestrians and cyclists, is a better idea. One that will also give our children more freedom.

For a fraction of the proposed road building costs an extensive network of safe pleasant routes could be constructed for the benefit of all who want to improve their own health not harm the health of others.

Instead of building for cars, we should follow the example of more enlightened cities and invest in alternatives.

Can it be done in Colchester? The Netherlands should be our inspiration, not Gotham City.

Dr Paul Byrne Colchester Medics For Safer Roads Colchester General Hospital

  • Publicity is park and ride’s downfall

The main reason for people not using the hospital park and ride service is because of lack of publicity. You published Peter Kay’s letter saying the whole scheme is flawed, which will hardly encourage use.

I recently tried the journey and was pleasantly surprised how quick the bus trip was.

I was apprehensive before when setting out, would I locate the stop for the hospital and could I find my way in?

I saw no signposting at the hospital but I came out near the Elmstead Day Unit and made my way from there and I did not find the distance excessive.

The service is aimed at car drivers who are not used to public transport and need reassurance that their hospital visit will be straightforward and this really does need the information and publicity.

I previously lived in Nottingham where on request the county council would regularly send out free timetables and libraries and some supermarkets had stands with free timetable leaflets.

The main operators are very good at issuing press releases.

The buses have a display and an announcement for the next stop and Nottingham City Transport has a Twitter account where they will advise passengers of any potential delays in service.

The bus services in Colchester would feel so much better if they gave the impression somebody cared and these changes should not be too expensive to implement.

Vaughan Clarke Chapel Road, Stanway

  • College articles brought back happy memories

Many former pupils and students of the various educational establishments which occupied the building on North Hill for more than a century, and which now houses the Sixth Form College, are no doubt reading with interest Sir Bob Russell’s articles on the history of this imposing building.

Many of us were surprised when the North East Essex Technical College and School of Art in Sheepen Road changed its name in 1993 to the Colchester Institute, not realising the name came from the building on North Hill originally called the Colchester Technical Institute where its roots lie.

My first contact with the technical college as a student in 1960/61 when I attended a full-time secretarial course, taught by the indefatigable Colchester borough councillor, May Cook, who had just completed her mayoral year.

In 1965 I returned to the college when I was appointed secretary to the vice principal, Alan Hutchinson, who was followed by Harry Warde.

I later became secretary to the Principal, Dr Gwyn Stephens, until he retired, sadly dying not long after this.

Dr Stephens was the much respected first principal of the college.

I then transferred to the teaching staff until I left in 1981 when I had my son.

Sir Bob’s articles have brought back many happy memories of my 17 years at the college when I experienced all facets of the establishment, as student, member of the administrative staff and the teaching staff.

Wendy Sparrow Court Street, Nayland

  • Kirby cash on the way to Kerala

A MAGNIFICENT £450 is winging its way to Kerala in South India, thanks to a viola and piano concert, with “Tea at the Ritz” to follow, at St Michael’s Church in Kirby-le-Soken.

See southindiancommunitytrust.weebly.com to see what the money raised will achieve.

Myra Hutchings Kirby le Soken