AS someone who is a resident and former shop trader of 35 years in the town centre, I find myself having to speak out about the way Essex Highways continually try to get their own way by making things more and more difficult for cars, buses and taxis trying to get through the town centre.

They want to close off the High Street permanently to cars so continually do what they can to cause traffic chaos in Head Street hoping that cars will take an alternative route to their destination.

I noticed by reading comments by councillor Sue Lissimore and many members of the public on this forum that finally they removed the cycle lane in Butt Road where it joins Head Street.

That took ages for them to listen.

But guess what?

This is what they have done now instead - if you get in the Butt Road right lane from Southway, you are now told by arrows to enter St John’s Street.

To top of that they have adjusted all three sets of traffic lights in Head Street to go red most of the time.

I think they go red even if you walk past them.

They just continue to clog up Head Street to the detriment of cars and all public transport.

Why do they keep doing this?

It is just ruining the town centre and just stopping people from coming here.

A lot of visitors come once but never again.

Having spent my 66 years living and working in Colchester (I closed my shop in St John’s Street in June 2021), I feel so sad to see the town centre decline as it has.

Over the years I have spoken to many others who feel exactly the same, people like me who have lived in Colchester all their life.

Lou Moodie

Priory Street, Colchester