A CAMPAIGN has been launched to axe a town centre bus lane which protesters say is leading drivers to perform dangerous U-turns.

Colchester Civic Society has released a video showing a number of drivers heading from Colchester High Street into East Hill and then turning round back towards Queen Street by using Lewis Gardens.

The Queen Street bus lane was introduced in 2014 to stop drivers on High Street from turning right.

Instead, it encouraged drivers to go down East Hill.

It was hoped the move would ease town centre congestion and also help to improve air quality which is at dangerous levels.

However, motorists were not stopped from travelling from East Hill into Queen Street.

It has since led to motorists going into East Hill from the High Street and then doubling back towards Queen Street, carrying on their route with just a slight detour.

Jo Edwards, chairwoman of Colchester Civic Society, said the move had not reduced the traffic going into Queen Street.

She said: “The problem is getting worse.

“It isn’t only the U-turns in Lewis Gardens which are dangerous.

“People are turning sharp right in front of the old Visitor Information Centre.

“They go straight into the pedestrian crossing when people are walking across on green.

“It is a constant stream of cars doing this, one after the other.

“On Thursday there was even an accident between a car and a van with one allegedly trying to do a U-turn to go back to Queen Street.

“It’s just dangerous.”

The society’s post and video has attracted hundreds of comments of support, which will be forwarded to Essex County Council as part of its evidence.

The society has also written to every borough and county councillor since Friday calling on them to back the campaign.

The group has contacted Essex County Council but Mrs Edwards said it is showing no signs of repealing the bus lane.

She said: “They said as far as they are concerned the manoeuvre is absolutely legal and they don’t see there’s a problem, which I find incredible.

“One of the reasons the bus lane was introduced was to reduce the pollution in Queen Street, but all they are doing is shifting it elsewhere to Brook Street, which really can’t take all the excess traffic. It’s silly.

“They have also said Essex Police wants to keep the bus lane so they can access Queen Street and St Botolph’s Street if there is trouble.

“But there really isn’t any down there any longer since the clubs quietened down.

“They need to just open up Queen Street.

“It will relieve all the pressure on Brook Street.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “It is essential drivers respect the safety of pedestrians and other motorists at all times and take care when manoeuvring, especially when driving in a busy town centre environment.”

The Gazette contacted Essex Police, but it declined to comment.