Colchester’s traffic jams are caused because people have fallen into a lifestyle where they are car dependent; worse, some are daily car-dependent.

Many of these car trips are ridiculously short. Many other car trips are a result of life choices, with people opting to live many miles from where they work (before the 1960s they’d have lived or lodged locally).

Journeys of less than five miles account for 69 per cent of the trips people make, so you can see how congestion could be reduced, if people walked, cycled or got a bus for a few of their journeys.

New roads will not solve the problem of congestion.

Making it easier for people to drive generates more motorists, who then get caught in a jam at the next pinch-point...usually in front of you.

In the case of the new Mile End development, the aim is to make it inconvenient to drive.

Colchester Council’s draft plan allows motorists to exit the estate only on the side adjacent to the A12 and farthest from the town centre.

Two gated roads, on to Mile End Road and Bergholt Road, will be open to buses, bikes and taxis only.

Such planning on the Continent has been shown to vastly reduce short car trips, while it only introduces a small detour as part of a longer journey.

The danger we face is that the developer is trying to water down this scheme by pressing for access via Bartholomew Court on to Mile End Road.

This will make it easier for new residents to drive for short trips, generating more car journeys and adding traffic to Mile End Road, which (since the Northern Approaches opened) is a primary cycle route.

Adding more vehicles will discourage these cyclists and perhaps lead to them driving, too.

If you get the chance at the forthcoming consultation, please oppose access via Bartholomew Court.

Will Bramhill
Mile End Road
Colchester