Colchester Stane Park congestion issues see police manage traffic

Drivers attempting to leave the Stane Retail Park in Stanway came to an abrupt standstill on Saturday afternoon as disruptive road closures on the A12 caused chaos throughout the area.

In fact the traffic was so bad officers from Colchester's Community Policing Team - who found themselves caught in the congestion for half an hour - were forced to jump to motorists' rescue.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Officers spent 30 minutes waiting to get out of Stane Park, Stanway.

"Having not moved they bluelighted their way out and started an hour's worth of traffic management. Thank you to all the people who thanked us."

One shopper who headed to Stane Park after his son's swimming class described the traffic as a "nightmare", adding how it took them "19 minutes to go 50 yards".

Speaking to the Gazette he said: "I only popped into Greggs to grab a sausage roll and a cuppa, but getting out of the car park was horrendous.

"There were a couple of security guards trying to manage traffic, but it was somewhat in vain. It was very slow going but motorists remained courteous to each other.

"I won't be going back to Stane Park for a while after enduring that - it was getting a little warm in the car, too, despite it being October.”

Traffic - heavy congestion at the Stane Retail Park (Image: Public)

Another shopper, meanwhile, said it took them "more than two hours to exit the premises after a visit to Marks and Spencer.

"We felt imprisoned in the car park," they added.

Congestion in the Stane Park area has been a somewhat divisive topic of discussion since the development was completed.

Speaking to the Gazette at the beginning of the year, a spokesman for Essex Highways said: "We are aware of traffic congestion on the site at peak periods and are working with the owners of the Stane Park retail park to assess ways of alleviating the congestion.”