It will be interesting to see the new plans for Vineyard Gate.

Like it or not, retail is contracting in town centres.

Unfortunately towns can’t now rely on the unused space being filled by the casual dining sector. Trade reports show that that market is also overcrowded.

The big chains are finding margins squeezed and demand falling off. Expansion plans have been scaled back.

So councils, landlords and developers who have been pinning their regeneration hopes on more leisure and dining might have a long wait.

This perhaps provides an opportunity for Colchester to achieve a better bus station.

I think it is unrealistic to expect it to be moved back to Queen Street, but it can be improved in situ if Colchester Council and Essex County Council have the will.

Colchester Council is buying up adjacent land. Surely some could be used to allow the terminal to stretch in width.

Every day chaos reigns. It must be a nightmare for bus companies and certainly hazardous for the public. It can’t go on like that for ever.

Essex County Council did what it could with the available space. However, given that the nearby area is going to change, it makes sense to plan in improvements.

I know it isn’t in Colchester Council’s gift, nor does it have the power to make it happen. But surely we can expect it to lobby and work with Essex County Council to make this sorry facility somewhat better.

Only a handful of borough and county councillors have shown any interest in the general bus service and I can’t recall any of them commenting about how the bus station works.

I challenge the Cabinet to express concern on behalf of residents and visitors, and open up a dialogue with county. With a piece of the Vineyard site, we get the bus station that is fit for purpose.

Unlike some other projects, this facility has a clear social purpose.

All councillors should get behind it. If the new plans make no provision for improvements, the regeneration of that area will be a wasted opportunity.

Nick Chilvers
Canwick Grove