A new temporary car ban has started in Colchester's High Street today ahead of plans to make the rules permanent. 

Vehicles were originally banned in June 2020 to increase space for pedestrians and enable social distancing as retailers reopened following the first national lockdown.

Buses, taxis, blue badge holders and motorbikes are still able to use the High Street.

The initial ban was for 24 hours a day but under the plans to make it permanent general traffic will be unable to use the road between 7am and 7pm.

Essex County Council launched an initial bid to make it permanent in March.

But an “administrative error” meant the timings of the restrictions were missed off the public notice.

As a result, a new temporary ban begins on Friday, July 22, while the new consultation takes place.

Documents said: “Due to an administrative error the timings of the restriction were omitted from the public notice.

“Therefore, in order to ensure the restriction is in operation and applicable for no longer in the day than necessary, ECC will introduce a temporary traffic regulation order with the reduced timings while simultaneously undertaking further formal consultation in order to permanently amend the prohibition to 7am to 7pm as originally intended.”

In a poll run by the Gazette last year, 61 per cent of readers said they felt the decision should be reverted and not made permanent.

And in October 2020 campaigner Peter Kay, of Colchester Bus Users’ Support Group, said many people were flouting the rules after recording 120 cars using the road in a single hour.

People have until August 12 to make a comment on the plans.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Temporary restrictions were introduced in Colchester High Street in 2020 as part of ECC’s Safer, Greener, Healthier, initiative.

“Following their introduction, extensive engagement and consultation has taken place with local people, and there is a clear desire to see a set of permanent restrictions which will promote Colchester High Street as a highly attractive area for pedestrians, shoppers, visitors and businesses by restricting its use to through traffic.

“This included a variation on the original temporary order to restrict traffic during the busiest peak periods of the day, but during the evening and night-time periods allow access when these are most beneficial to support local traffic movements and the night-time economy.

“To achieve a smooth transition between the previous order and a new permanent order a further temporary order is required.

“A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order has been put in place to limit vehicle use in Colchester High Street between the hours of hours of 7am to 7pm, as restrictions were in place 24 hours a day. A formal consultation is also now taking place to reduce the restriction times permanently.

“In conjunction with these changes, again as part of our Safer, Greener, Healthier initiative, walking and cycling connections will also be improved on a key route to facilitate safer journeys east to west across Colchester. This will see a mix of new infrastructure, the introduction of 20mph areas and the creation of new School Streets.

“The proposals address journeys which we know are being made by car and therefore look to make walking and cycling a more attractive option for residents.

“Further details of all ECC’s Active Travel Fund schemes are available at: https://www.essexhighways.org/active-travel-fund.”