Campaigners call for new 2.5km route near River Colne in Colchester

Colchester Civic Society and Colchester Cycling Campaign are calling for Essex County Council and Colchester Council to connect the “stump ends” of Meander Mews and Rouse Way with a new shared use pathway.

The groups say putting in the 100 metre path would create a 2.5km riverside route along the north bank of the River Colne, past Meadow Nature Reserve and Cowdray Marsh Wildlife Site, which would be a major attraction for walkers, joggers, cyclists and visitors.

The groups hope County Hall can use part of £10 million Emergency Active Travel Fund cash, set to be released by the Government, or secure developers’ community cash to pay for the path.

• A map showing the new 2.5km route near the river

Walking groups Colchester Ramblers and Walk Colchester are behind the proposal.

Rowena Macaulay, of Walk Colchester, said: “It would be a lovely way of celebrating the river.

"However, it must be wide enough to support shared use.”

Michael Padmore, of Colchester Cycling Campaign, said the path was suggested eight years ago as part of the borough’s Cycling Delivery Strategy and surveys took place in 2015.

Mr Padmore said: “An additional benefit is that it would help to create a safe and convenient commuter cycling route between North Station and the east side of Colchester.”

• The existing path, which comes to a sudden end

A spokesman for County Hall said its Emergency Active Travel Fund schemes will be released soon.

He added: “Schemes have been objectively assessed according to Department for Transport criteria which include road space allocation from cars to cyclists and pedestrians.

"The schemes submitted to the DfT are to be announced shortly although we do not expect a confirmed funding announcement from the DfT until later in the year.

"Schemes which do not receive funding may be considered for other funding such as the Gear Change investment into cycling and walking.”