IT is the Big Question in Colchester town centre.

Should all traffic be banned from High Street? 

Community and business leaders have had their say. 

Mike Lilley, Colchester councillor responsible for transportation, has given the question an emphatic yes.

He cites air quality concerns while also encouraging a "street café/bar culture". 

He added: "We can have a market seven days a week, offer chalets to business people on a cheaper rent - more choice, more footfall.

"Events can be held in the High Street with music, drama street performers.

"With Tollgate and Northern Gateway coming we need to embrace it. Let's move into the 21st century, backed up by our great history."

But Peter Donaldson, who runs Red Lion Books fears there are "too many problems". 

He said: "Shops depend on multiple deliveries arriving each day.

"We need to have access ourselves by car to pick up and deliver books to schools. 

"Our High Street is wide and when pedestrianisation was tried before it felt like a deserted and unwelcoming place.

"The danger is it sends out a message that Colchester is 'closed for business' with the result being ever-increasing numbers of people forget the town centre and head to out of town shopping developments where access is easy, and where parking is free.

"For pedestrianisation of the High Street to work, bold planning and significant funding would be needed."

Carl Milton, managing director of Fenwick Colcheste said the issue should at least be debated. 

He added: "Anything which guarantees the beauty and usability of our town centre should be put up for discussion.

"Improving the town centre to maintain it as the go-to  location for residents is at the heart of what is trying to be achieved by the current consultation of local businesses. 

"At the heart of our aims is to make the centre a cleaner and safer place for the public, and guarantee it remains a vibrant and enjoyable public space to visit. 

"Proposals to pedestrianise the town centre have been muted just like the plans put forward for Oxford Street to improve issues of congestion and pollution in London."

Suki Dulai, chief executive officer of Flying Trade Group, urged caution.

He said: "We do have grave concerns of the proposition.

"We have made significant investments in the town centre, with our current refurbishment programme for the George Hotel, Claudius Gateway and St Nicholas House, amounting to over £10 million.

"Our primary objective is to ensure the consumer journey is a pleasurable one with easy access to the front of The George.

"If the High Street was pedestrianised, the traffic would be redirected through the Dutch Quarter which has an infrastructure that can’t sustain the flow of traffic."

David Burch, policy director at Essex Chambers of Trade, has thrown his weight behind the proposals. 

He said: "The answer is most definitely yes.

"You only have to look at neighbouring towns, such as Chelmsford, to see pedestrianisation schemes have brought a real vibrancy to the town centre.

"It would enable the town centre to properly host a weekly market, not subject to traffic pollution.

"I know there will be issues with routing traffic and bus routes, but if people want to see Colchester town centre not just survive but thrive, this idea needs to be given proper consideration."

Lee Scordis, Essex County Council ward councillor

"Yes, I believe the High Street in Colchester should be pedestrianised. 

"This will reinvigorate our High Street, make the market more attractive and cut down on emissions and the severe noise pollution.

"Soon, Colchester town centre will have to compete with Tollgate, due to the misguided decision of this Tory Government, and this offers us a way of doing this.

"However, I do not believe we should rush into this. We need to analyse what went wrong last time this was attempted and how we rectify this. 

"We also need to work with local businesses on this."

But what do you think?