Colchester man says his walk to work is potentially dangerous (From Gazette)

Colchester man says his walk to work is potentially dangerous

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

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.”