A NEW traffic island is to be installed at a busy town centre junction... but residents say it is not enough to ease congestion.

Essex Highways plans to install the traffic island in Colchester High Street, at the junction with Lewis Gardens, next Monday but Colchester Civic Society and the Roman and Castle Road Residents Association fear it will cause more problems.

Castle ward councillor Simon Crow organised a meeting with Essex County Council infrastructure boss Kevin Bentley tomorrow at 7pm at the Rose Room in Greyfriars.

He said: “I am very pleased to see something being done about the entrance to Lewis Gardens so drivers cannot perform u-turns there.

“I believe there have been accidents there. The only concern is residents feel it will push the problem to other areas.”

The Civic Society has also been campaigning for the removal of the Queen Street bus lane for almost three years. It said the traffic island will not relieve the traffic problems.

“The problem will simply be pushed to other locations,” it said. “Vehicles will either drive into Lewis Gardens to turn outside Firstsite, do a three point turn at the traffic island, or continue to Roman Road to turn there.”

The Civic Society wants a survey of Queen Street traffic flow to be carried out.

It said: “There is no evidence the bus lane actually reduces traffic in the High Street or Queen Street.

“We propose the current traffic flow in Queen Street is measured. Then with the bus lane suspended, a second survey should be conducted.”

Mr Bentley said: “I recognise the importance of finding an appropriate solution to the problems caused by drivers doing U-turns instead of using an alternative route to access Queen Street.

“Our figures suggest up to one in seven vehicles coming east from the High Street use Lewis Gardens to turn round to enter Queen Street.

“It is important we consider the impact of this particular issue on the town’s wider road network and how we can better support people to choose alternative modes of transport to reduce traffic travelling through the town centre in the first place.

“Bus lanes in Colchester continue to help in this respect, ensuring bus journey times more reliable and that buses are a more convenient way of travelling, particularly during peak hours.”