Proposals have been made to alter Crouch Street West in order to accommodate an express cycle route being created from east to west and north to south in Colchester.

I made a banner saying “What do you think?” and added pictures of Essex County Council’s proposals for Crouch Street West.

While standing in that street during part of Saturday, July 24, and Monday, July 26, people stopped and chatted to me. Please note they approached me, I did not approach them.

Those users of the street who were keen to have their opinions relayed to the authorities put a tick or a cross on a sheet to show their like or dislike for the various ideas. There was also a comment strip.

The results:

* New cycle way position – For 9, Against 31

* Subway demolition – For 1, Against 41

* Retaining Herringbone parking – For 30, Against 6

* Proposed Parallel parking – For 3, Against 32

Concerns raised included: The viability of traders and service providers if the reduced parallel parking style was introduced; the ramifications for the A12 and town by-pass snarl-ups if the subway was demolished; the occasional-use nature of the town’s current cycle lanes.

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Cars won’t go away. With owners morphing into pollution-light, electric models, their use will grow. It will have to, for ‘the corner shop’ is not being created.

Do we think traders, services and our heritage can be sustained by those with time to walk and cycle into town?

Is it OK that it is mainly car users who access the growing out-of-town sites and amenities?

By making the town centre more pleasurable for cyclists and pedestrians, we should not further destroy its viability, especially after the expenses of Covid.

Annesley Hardy

The Avenue, Colchester