From tomorrow Colchester town centre will see car bans, slower speed limits and cycle and walking lanes.

Essex County Council and Colchester Council have worked together on the Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme, which will see a number of interim traffic measures introduced in the centre and towards North Station.

There will be 20mph limits, temporary barriers and other measures.

This is what you need to know.

What will be different on Monday?

  • 20mph limits will be in force on Queen Street, St John's Street, North Hill and North Station Road
  • No cars will be allowed in the High Street. There are exemptions for cyclists, taxis, buses, motorbikes, blue badge holders and goods vehicles
  • Guidance urging people to keep left on footpaths will be painted on paths from the Colchester Station to Headgate. It will also be on paths along Queen Street
  • There will be a shared space for cyclists and pedestrians along St John's Street, North Station Road and North Hill
  • Underpasses in the town centre will also have keep left signs

Gazette:

Why have the measures been introduced?

The project is funded by part of the initial £1.9 million Emergency Active Travel Fund for Essex.

It is responding directly to the current Covid-19 pandemic the plans allow people to self-distance and still travel safely by creating new lanes for cycling and walking in Colchester.

The project will ensure areas of the town centre with some of the highest footfall are safe and healthy places to move through, following the easing of lockdown restrictions and the re-opening of shops and businesses.

Gazette:

What have town leaders said?

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “We have responded directly to people’s safety and their lead in increasing the use of cycle lands and pavements.

"While I recognise that many people will still need to use their cars this is a chance for people to think hard about driving over short distances.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to greatly improve our air quality and our health as well as the life opportunities for the next generation.

“Colchester is one of the first County schemes in the country to use this money to help keep people confidently return to shop and work, as lockdown measures continue to be carefully eased.”

Mark Cory, leader of Colchester Council, added: “These strange times give us the

opportunity to restart in a safer and greener way.

"Colchester Borough Council has worked hard during the crisis to keep people safe and now we want to give people the confidence to come back into the town

centre, but in a healthier, greener and less polluting way. We are working with Essex County Council on the first steps of an ambitious plan to radically improve cycling and walking access in and around the town centre.

“We face difficulties with the historic nature of the town and the growth in the borough, but we must now ensure that traffic and pollution don’t go back to the same old ways.

"We are backing the County Council’s plans, which have gained support from cross-party leaders.

"This is very much seen as a first step, and I hope we can work with the cycling and walking campaign groups to help develop the plans further, making it easier and safer to take the healthy options of travelling in Colchester.”