MORE than 100 people gathered in Crouch Street as residents and businesses staged a demonstration against plans to fill in a pedestrian subway connecting the road to the city centre.
In the latest protest in a protracted campaign against Essex County Council, a large crowd gathered in Crouch Street West early on Saturday afternoon.
They used placards and microphones to voice their concern about how the authority’s plans could affect business in the area.
The blueprint put forward by Essex County Council involves removing the current parking bays and replacing them with parallel spaces to make room for a new cycle lane.
The plans also involve filling in the pedestrian subway which connects Crouch Street and Crouch Street West.
The existing pedestrian crossing on Balkerne Hill would be replaced with a straight two-way cycle and pedestrian crossing.
Campaigners have fiercely objected to the plans, arguing diverting more people to a pedestrian crossing over Balkerne Hill poses a major safety risk.
At Saturday’s protest, Friend’s of Crouch Street West’s Tony Cheeld told the crowd that the street needs protecting as Colchester's final cluster of high-end independent businesses.
He said: “I moved to Colchester 44 years ago because it had vitality, a great hospitality sector, embedded history, excellent retail experience, and fantastic arts and theatre.
“The sizzle has drained from the retail sector in most of Colchester – Crouch Street West is the last vibrant community of local residents and unique speciality businesses.
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“Once they’re gone, they’re gone – let’s keep them.”
Allison Hudson, who runs Faces Hair Salon alongside her husband in Crouch Street West, read out a letter on behalf of Will Quince.
It read: “I understand the considerable concern felt by many residents regarding the second phase of Crouch Street West.
“I have raised mine and your more recent concerns regarding the filling in of Crouch Street West subway – and the safety issues this may cause – to the secretary of state for transport.”
Bosses at Essex County Council believe the renovation will make the area “safer, greener and healthier” for both cyclists and pedestrians.
Speaking previously Lee Scott, Essex County Council's highways boss, said: “Throughout the development of proposals for improving walking and cycling in Crouch Street West in Colchester we have listened to feedback from residents and businesses.
"“The safety of pedestrians, cyclists and disabled users of Crouch Street West has been the utmost priority throughout the process of identifying the best option for investing Active Travel England Funding in Crouch Street West.
"The existing subway is substandard, with vertical ramp angles and widths that no longer comply with design standards, and it is unusable for disabled users.
“I believe the recommendation puts forward changes that will create a space that is safer, greener and healthier for pedestrians and cyclists.”
A full breakdown of the plans can be found on the Essex Highways website on tinyurl.com/w6trc5jv, and comments on Crouch Street West can be emailed to SGH.Routes@essex.gov.uk.
Residents can submit their views on the changes to the Balkerne Hill underpass at tinyurl.com/Balkerne-Hill, or by writing to Essex Couny Council (Network Assurance Scheme), County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH.
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