A NEW quarter of a million pound project is set to link key areas across Colchester to encourage people to walk across the city.

Walk With Words aims to get a new generation of walkers to pound the pavements while learning about the city. 

Signs has been put up across Colchester showcasing creative writing and visual imagery, produced in collaboration with students from Essex University.  

Designed and curated by Dallas-Pierce-Quintero, in collaboration with Burgess and Beech, the wayfinding posts are placed across the city centre, Essex University and Greenstead.

The route travels from St Botolph’s along Magdalen Street, Hythe Hill, Hythe Quay, and the Wivenhoe Trail to the swing basin and the university campus.

There is also a route proposed from the university to Greenstead via the Knowledge Gateway, Clingoe Hill and Salary Brook to Avon Way.

Each post will contain a unique QR code to access a variety of evolving digital content that aims to make the walking route more enjoyable.

The £258,000 project is being funded by S106 contributions from the university student accommodation developments, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer Streets fund.

Colchester Councillor Andrea Luxford Vaughan said the council is “delighted” to launch the project.

She continued: “This is a great example of how we are working with partners to encourage more sustainable travel, and we hope that it will encourage more people to get out and walk.

“As well as encouraging walking, which will help to reduce emissions and improve air quality, this project will also help to make the route safer.

“By making people aware of the possibility of walking the route, we will encourage more walking, thereby increasing walkers’ safety through higher numbers using the routes.”

Essex University lecturer Dr Daniel O'Brien added the institution hopes the project will “promote wellbeing, connect walking with the imagination, and invite the community to wander together through space and thought”.

“Our students will be working closely with the creative team to curate an eclectic database of content – including material from local people - inspired by and accessible through the walking routes developed at the boundary of the city and surrounding countryside”, he added.

The project is expected to be implemented in late 2023.