NEW traffic restrictions could be introduced on a series of roads around schools in Colchester in a bid to stop parents dropping off their children at school.

Essex County Council is proposing to set up more than a dozen School Streets in a number of roads off Lexden Road.

The 18 roads included are centred around Colchester Royal Grammar School, Kingswode Hoe School, St Mary’s School for Girls and the entrance route leading to St Benedict’s, Colchester County High School for Girls and Philip Morant.

The roads where schools streets are planned are:

  • Beverly Road
  • Creffield Road
  • Endsleigh Court
  • Gray Road
  • Hospital Road
  • Keble Close
  • Lexden Court
  • Lockhart Avenue
  • Mossfield Close
  • New Kiln Road
  • Norman Way
  • Oxford Road
  • Park Road
  • Roddam Close
  • Sussex Road
  • The Chantry
  • Wellesley Road
  • Wroxham Close

Gazette: A map showing where the School Streets are planned in orangeA map showing where the School Streets are planned in orange

School Streets are roads around education facilities with temporary restrictions during school drop off and pick up times.

They aim to encourage children to walk or cycle to school by making the surrounding area safer and, in some cases, banning traffic during certain hours.

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Residents have raised concerns the scheme would mean they cannot access their properties at certain times of the day with rumours permits will be needed.

Angela King, who lives in Lockhart Avenue, said: “Only residents in the planned School Streets have been informed but these changes will affect everyone in the area.

“Parking around the schools is a long-standing issue but I think this is a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach.

“This isn’t a resident generated problem but we are the ones who are being penalised.

“You cannot make these changes without moving the problem elsewhere.”

Councillor Sue Lissimore is chairing the group at Essex County Council which will analyse the results of the consultation and has written to residents in the area.

She said: “Under no circumstances will I support in any form the closure of any road in the area.

“The results of the consultation will be looked at with the schools, our residents and parents to ensure the best results are achieved, and that more children walk or cycle to school and the roads are less congested for all who live near to the schools.

“The consultation was purposefully left vague in the hope that residents put forward what they thought would work.

“But this has led to confusion and scare stories suggesting that residents would not have access to their properties at certain times of day.”

Residents can take part in the consultation at consultations.essex.gov.uk/essex-highways/active-travel-colchester.