CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a bus lane to be scrapped in a bid to stop hundreds of rogue drivers taking “dangerous” U-turns every day.

Colchester Civic Society is calling on Essex County Council to abandon restrictions which stop cars from turning right into Queen Street from High Street.

The ban means hundreds of drivers are choosing to make a U-turn at Lewis Gardens, in front of Firstsite, in order to access Queen Street.

In a previous investigation by the Gazette, we found about 90 drivers an hour were flouting the rules.

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The civic society has carried out its own count and has reported more than 40 cars carrying out the manoeuvre in three separate ten-minute periods.

Society members had hoped the problem could be resolved after talking with both Colchester Council and Essex County Council bosses but they fear they are getting nowhere.

John Salmon, a member of the society’s executive committee, said he now fears county hall bosses believe the bus lane to be “non-negotiable”.

He added: “When we raised the problems associated with the Queen Street Bus lane at our meeting with Essex Highways, we were told that people must learn to change their habits and not expect to be free to drive into the town centre, as this causes congestion and pollution, which is already at unacceptable levels.

“Few people would argue with this.

“It is our contention, however, that the existence of the Queen Street bus lane has virtually no impact on town centre congestion or pollution.”

The group states dangerous pollution is is more likely to be caused by a lack of bus laybys in the town centre as well as traffic which legitimately travels along Head Street, High Street and East Hill.

Mr Salmon also argued: “The vast majority of drivers doing the u-turn to access Queen Street, we believe, are actually looking to get to Priory Street car park.

“The only traffic which runs along High Street from the west side has come along Head Street from Southway so why would the drivers be seeking to rejoin Southway from Queen Street?”

He added: “As a result of the u-turns, it is impossible for pedestrians to cross Lewis Gardens safely.”

Essex County Council bosses have argued the bus lane is integral to the speed of the Colchester Park and Ride service, which aims to ferry passengers between the Cuckoo Farm site and the town centre in nine minutes.

Essex Highways boss Eddie Johnson added the bus lane is a “key element of our public transport infrastructure within Colchester town centre”.

He said: “It has assisted in reducing traffic flow in the town centre and helps provide public transport, including the park and ride service.”