Colchester man says his walk to work is potentially dangerous

8:00am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in News By Wendy Brading

Joe Aldrich on the path Joe Aldrich on the path

MARKETING director Joe Aldrich’s daily journey to work in Colchester should be a pleasure.

It involves a ten-minute walk along a footpath from his home in Beche Road, New Town, to Hythe Quay.

But what should be an enjoyable stroll is fraught due to the poor standard of the path.

Now Mr Aldrich has appealed to Colchester Council to spend money on improvements to the route.

Mr Aldrich, who is 26, said: “As I work on the Hythe and live in New Town this footpath should be the easiest and most convenient method of getting to and from work.

“However, in its current state, it makes walking along it an uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous experience.”

He added: “All of the footpath is a unconcreted, with part of it being a steep hill, with no hand rails which in winter or after heavy rain can prove to be incredibly slippery for a lone adult, not to mention parents and children with pushchairs.”

He said the path was continually muddy, even when the sun has been shining.

And when it rains, he says the path can be half a foot under water.

Mr Aldrich added: “The other issue with the path is all the trees and weeds are so overgrown, you have to duck, dive and weave along certain sections of the path.”

Mr Aldrich said the path was also unlit making it intimidating at night.

He said: “It is only going to get worse as winter approaches.

“The council must have received money associated to the redevelopment of the Hythe.

“I would like it to use some of it on improvements to the footpath.”

Comments(21)

Frankandstein2 says...
8:24am Wed 11 Jul 12

Drama Queen!

Report this post »

SOMETHING2SAY says...
8:48am Wed 11 Jul 12

As a marketing director...you must have some funds.....get a torch and some wellies !!

Report this post »

TheCaptain says...
8:59am Wed 11 Jul 12

I walked along the same path a couple of months ago and enjoyed the walk as the oath isn't concreted and has trees and wild plants growing alongside. Felt like it was in the countryside. Of course it's steep but it is a hill. Please council can you remove this hill and concrete over all natural land. Grow up man and get a life. Gazette try reporting news not pointless stories.

Report this post »

jammin says...
10:08am Wed 11 Jul 12

Simple solution...use a car :)
Thats what the council wants

Report this post »

Wicky1 says...
10:23am Wed 11 Jul 12

I use to walk it everyday as a kid when going back and forth to St Georges School from Hythe Hill. Cycled along it recently without a problem. Perhaps Mr Aldrich should stick to the main roads if he can't handle the steep path.

Report this post »

newtactic says...
10:27am Wed 11 Jul 12

I have every sympathy with Joe. I have had the same problem on the many occasions I have found a good footpath from home to work and the local authority has neglected its duty in maintaining the path. I commuted to work on public transport for ten years. the I communted by car (after a move to Essex because the public transport wasn't so frequent) for a further ten years. I then chose to move to a house which was within walking distance of most of my work. But now, when I work somewhere which is badly served with public transport, I have to borrow a car to get there and I have to allow an extra 15 minutes to get out of Colchester. Well done Joe for finding a public footpath from home to work!

Report this post »

hughie-s says...
11:15am Wed 11 Jul 12

No worries, soon be solved, just need £1m

http://www.gazette-n
ews.co.uk/news/local
/colchester/7987083.
Bus_link_road_plan_t
o_cut_town___s_conge
stion_blues/

Report this post »

Reginald47 says...
12:36pm Wed 11 Jul 12

I've seen nothing in the story that confirms the path is owned by the council or if it is by which council.

Report this post »

The REAL Norm says...
1:55pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Slow news day?

It's a footpath - get over it. (And he should get a haircut too). What is he, 26 going on 80...? How on earth did this make it into the paper?

Hippy: "Hello, is that the Gazette?"

Cub reporter: "I think so. That's what it says on the front of the paper."

Hippy: "Good. I have to walk along a footpath to work in Colchester and there are puddles when it rains. And it is dark at night. And it is on a hill. What do you think of that?"

Cub reporter: "HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! We're on our way Sir. It will take us 45 minutes to get to you from Basildon."

Hippy: "I have a beard and long hair. Is that a problem?"

Cub reporter: "No, just wear your holiday clothes and sunglasses and practice looking a bit miffed. We will bring a hairbrush and a photographer."

Report this post »

TheCaptain says...
3:36pm Wed 11 Jul 12

The REAL Norm wrote:
Slow news day?

It's a footpath - get over it. (And he should get a haircut too). What is he, 26 going on 80...? How on earth did this make it into the paper?

Hippy: "Hello, is that the Gazette?"

Cub reporter: "I think so. That's what it says on the front of the paper."

Hippy: "Good. I have to walk along a footpath to work in Colchester and there are puddles when it rains. And it is dark at night. And it is on a hill. What do you think of that?"

Cub reporter: "HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! We're on our way Sir. It will take us 45 minutes to get to you from Basildon."

Hippy: "I have a beard and long hair. Is that a problem?"

Cub reporter: "No, just wear your holiday clothes and sunglasses and practice looking a bit miffed. We will bring a hairbrush and a photographer."
Thanks, that's made me laugh.

Report this post »

Boris says...
4:18pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Frankandstein2 wrote:
Drama Queen!
Frank, I don't often agree with you, but you hit this one spot on.
And, as the Captain says, Norm has a nice interpretation of it too.
Welcome back Norm, haven't seen you on here for a while.

Report this post »

The REAL Norm says...
4:31pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Been out of the country Boris. What have I missed while I've been away?

Is VAF and Firsts*ite now universally loved by Colcestrians? Is the council no longer run by incompetent fools?

Report this post »

hughie-s says...
5:30pm Wed 11 Jul 12

The REAL Norm wrote:
Been out of the country Boris. What have I missed while I've been away?

Is VAF and Firsts*ite now universally loved by Colcestrians? Is the council no longer run by incompetent fools?
Don't think so but they are getting to like odd things, 50,000 turned out at 7.30 in the morning last Friday to watch people running past with a lighted gas cylinder held aloft.

Might drum up a bit of trade if they get Wallinger's Diana in from the National.

Report this post »

Boris says...
6:33pm Wed 11 Jul 12

I've been out of the country too, Norm, but I kept up with the Gazette on line while away. You must have been away a long time and with better things to do than stare at a computer screen.
The fools who run the council are as incompetent and - in some cases - as vicious as ever.
The VAF is still shunned by 94% of Colcestrians. I'll be there to-night but only to see a film. The so-called art works have probably changed since you were last there, but they are still worthless tat.
As for peeping at Diana naked, hughie-s, that would be fun, but she might turn you into a stag and get the attack dogs, Tina and Tim, to tear you to pieces.

Report this post »

nick2480 says...
1:13pm Thu 12 Jul 12

Come and post on this forum..

www.wearecolchester.
freeforums.org

Report this post »

Im_Like_HELLO says...
5:04pm Thu 12 Jul 12

This chap has a point. People are always on about potholes in the roads; those of us who still have legs (and aren't wedded to our cars) need to campaign more for our footpaths to be improved.

Report this post »

Hatpeg says...
7:42pm Thu 12 Jul 12

Bumpy, overgrown, uneven pathway, - yes, shorts and sandals are just the gear to wear in those circumstances.

Report this post »

fnagwaa says...
8:32am Fri 13 Jul 12

I recently went to Wales and let me tell you that the place is full of these dangerous footpaths, I think it's a disgrace and in this modern age something should be done about it.

Also I find all the trees and long grass in some areas of Colchester blocks my view when I'm trying to look at modern buildings and spot lorries and cars on the roads....surely something can be done about these obstructions as well.

Report this post »

Dontsendimdaahn says...
2:36pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Marketing director implies a little more than basic education. Not much, but a little. Perhaps he should consider that asking the council for money to develop an obviously underused footpath takes funds away from essential services needed by the local population at large. The local and central government have budgets to use for the social good. Pet projects are selfish and not at all in keeping with ecologically sound principles. Whilst it is admirable that some would rather walk to work, I'm afraid were not living in a "build it and they will come" environment, more one of "it's been used heavily and worn out, so lets mend it".

Report this post »

SOMETHING2SAY says...
4:14pm Fri 13 Jul 12

there are weeds in my street...by the path / street....in the gutters...hope the council can help...wont hold my breath !

Report this post »

The old see dog says...
11:38pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Our friend Joe Aldrich looks like a by product from the University, you know the type, the ones that think crossing the 133 at the crossings at the multi roundabout and the new one on Clingo Hill is so dangerous as there is a blade of grass growing in the gutter and until the council pulls it up they will continue to play with the traffic day and night between the said crossings. Super intelligent or what

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree