Colchester Crouch Street activists bemoan new cycle lane consultation

Essex County Council has published new documents which suggest a new consultation is underway to introduce local cycling and walking infrastructure proposals (LCWIP).

An official document reads: “We are excited to share Essex County Council is currently working on the refresh of the LCWIP.”

The proposals, documents added, “are part of the government's cycling and walking investment strategy, aiming to strategically identify essential improvements for cycling and walking in our local area”.

Shelved – previous plans for a cycle lane in Crouch Street were ditched earlier this year (Image: Essex County Council)

But residents have said the consultation, which opened in July and will close at the end of September, has “trickled into the public domain” so as to avoid public opposition.

Previous plans from Essex County Council to develop the Active Travel Scheme involved constructing a cycle lane through Crouch Street, revamping the pedestrian crossing in Balkerne Hill, and filling in the subway which runs underneath the dual carriageway.

The plans were subsequently shelved after they faced huge opposition from residents, but with a new consultation underway, residents are bracing themselves for another battle.

Tony Cheeld, of the East Lexden Residents’ Association, criticised the low level of publicity which county hall has given to the consultation.

He said: “I’m very cynical; my concern is that we end up consuming valuable time on something which isn’t informative or inclusive.

“Last time, they came up with this grand scheme, but you’ve got to be on the ground to see whether or not it will work.

“It was such a vast project; if it had been a proper consultation, the number of objections would have been a lot higher.”

He added the latest consultation is so low key people had stumbled upon it by accident.

“It seems they are trying to slip it out slowly – it’s so wrong on so many levels," he said.

“A consultation is an active engagement with all parties, connecting and initiating with those who are affected.

Low key – a campaigner has said the plans have trickled into the public domain (Image: Pixabay)

"If they are trying to persuade someone there is a way forward then you have to involve all parties right from the start – they haven’t done that."

Essex County Council said in a statement routes will be prioritised in due course, and that the current consultation is only gathering views on broader plans. 

A spokesman said: "The council is seeking views on the updated network of key routes in Colchester so that the public can have their say on the emerging networks.

"However, there will be further feasibility work and engagement once we have received feedback, as we prioritise routes for further development and ultimately future investment in infrastructure.

"The consultation is only asking for residents views on the plans, and no decisions have been made on any specific infrastructure improvements or designs."

The LCWIP documents can be viewed on tinyurl.com/5xjvzmrw.