NONE of the shops and businesses in the road where a controversial new bus gate is planned have been directly consulted on the proposals, it has been claimed.

Essex Highways’ plans for the new bus gate in Colchester, part of wider Active Travel changes, will see traffic barred from entering North Station Road from Middleborough.

Residents and campaigners have raised concerns about the plan, which will mean an extra 3,000 vehicles a day are diverted on to Westway.

Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s High Steward and former MP, delivered questionnaires to the 35 businesses in the area asking what they knew about the plans.

All 35 said they had not been contacted by Essex Highways or the steering group leading proposals.

Sir Bob said: “Through Freedom Of Information requests I have established the steering group has met 14 times since last year to discuss the proposals, involving organisations with their own agenda, although the full membership of the steering group is not known because the council refuses to give names of those from the organisations involved.

“What is also not known is who chose the membership of the steering group.

“One thing is clear – businesses in North Station Road have not been involved at any stage, as my survey confirms. They have been ignored and kept in the dark, as have all of the near 800 residential households in the area affected.”

Just two of the businesses surveyed said they had heard about the plan before Sir Bob hand delivered his own leaflet to people in the area.

“It is my hope Essex Highways will not proceed with the ban on traffic entering North Station Road over the river bridge,” Sir Bob said.

“It will add 3,000 vehicles to the often congested Westway, will add to pollution and add to journey times for residents who live locally, and will be detrimental to the financial viability to those running shops and other businesses in North Station Road.

“The fact there has been no consultation with residents and businesses by anyone on the steering group is disgraceful.”

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A spokesman for Essex Highways no decisions had been made and responses to a consultation were being considered.

He added: “The whole purpose of a consultation is to allow the public and businesses to give their views and to help shape the final proposals before anything is implemented.

“The council did engage with key community representatives before the consultation began, our steering group worked closely with Colchester businesses through Colchester BID, Colchester Cycle Campaign, Walk Colchester, passenger transport, Essex Sight and North Essex Parking Partnership.”

“We also consulted elected representatives of all parties from both Essex County Council and Colchester Council.”

“Once analysis of all the consultation responses has taken place, we will report to the steering group who will then discuss next steps.”