How sensible of Colchester Council’s planning committee to urge the closure of Queens Road, in Wivenhoe, be reconsidered.

Worries over the increased volume of traffic, which will result from further development of Cook’s Shipyard led the planning committee to visit Wivenhoe and see for itself access problems with this site.

Members became very concerned about the pressures on lower Wivenhoe, and voted unanimously to ask the highways department to reconsider the closure.

Residents there, and on the Dene Park estate, campaigned vigorously against the original proposal, petitioning local, borough and county councillors, and MPs.

Essex County Council’s highways department experienced an unprecedented level of protest prior to the closure, and Wivenhoe Town Council was also opposed.

On Dene Park and upper Park Road, we have suffered the impact of increased traffic, including construction vehicles, on roads not designed for this, and on a family housing estate where scores of children were accustomed to walking in safety.

Damage to the road surface and pavements is evident, and the closure has also caused great inconvenience to local traffic and apparently the emergency services.

Many local residents are simply bewildered by the closure.

We therefore welcome the hope that Queens Road will reopen and take only its fair share of the increased traffic flow.

Pat Marsden (Letters, September 17) calls it stirring up a hornet’s nest, but we think reconsidering this issue is a much-welcomed opportunity to reverse a ridiculous and unfair decision, and make Wivenhoe a more harmonious place to live.We would urge those who would like to see Queens Road reopened to write to the highways department at Essex County Council and make their voices heard.

Sophie Levoi and
Lynne Hollis
Wivenhoe