It is ironic Colchester Council’s approval of the 380-space car park at Essex University came on the same day the Danish transport minister told the UK Government where it was going wrong on planning and cycling.

Users of green transport do, at least, get £250,000 towards the Wivenhoe to university cycle path, and the university’s travel plan “will be scrutinised”.

However, that is small comfort when the cycle path funding will mean less money to improve the Greenstead roundabout or straighten the university Quays cycle bridge – and there doesn’t appear to be anything to help bus users.

At present, the cars using the university would stretch for more than five miles if set out bumper to bumper. The new car park will increase that jam to more than seven miles.

Think of that next time you see a queue of frustrated motorists on Clingoe Hill, the Avenue of Remembrance, Colne Causeway or Hythe Hill, or somebody suffering breathing problems.

Never again do I want to hear any of the councillors who voted for this scheme whinging about congestion – your decisions are causing it. Or why children are not allowed to walk or cycle to school – your decisions are stopping them.

The university did not need these spaces, it needed to beef up its travel plan.

It is also disgusting the university is spending many millions of pounds of public money – I am told it is £10,000 per car space – on such a project at a time of austerity.

Families are hard up, the NHS is hurting and benefits are being cut, but Joe Professor at the Wivenhoe park campus can find a car space instead of hopping on a bus.

That’s all right then.

Will Bramhill
Mile End Road
Colchester