MY partner and I were visiting Essex last week and bought a copy of the Gazette - an impressive paper, might I say.

I wish I could be equally complimentary about the town, sorry, city, of Colchester itself.

We visited on Wednesday, November 23, keen to see the Roman Circus - we were probably some of the last ever tourists to visit the town of Colchester.

The walk from the (‘North’) station was an awful experience, the heavy rain had given rise to large puddles which the cars, buses and vans splashed all over us.

Does no one ever unblock the drains in Colchester?

Reaching the centre, we expected the Roman Circus to be well signposted - it is, after all, perhaps the most significant Roman find in England this century.

We found but one signpost, and that was quite close to our destination.

We also expected tourist information to help us find our way, but couldn’t find any.

We did find a map that had been vandalised and was illegible, somewhere close to the town hall.

If it hadn’t been for Google Maps, we would never have found our objective; as it was, the route there, along narrow footpaths beside busy roads, wending our way around bus queues and dodging out of the way of pavement cyclists was not to be recommended.

Has no-one ever thought of signposting tourist attractions in Colchester?

The news that, less than a day after our visit, Colchester officially became a city is, I’m afraid, a bit of a joke.

Have those behind the idea not visited any proper cities, like Newcastle, Carlisle, Nottingham, Leeds, Hull and Portsmouth where tourists are seemingly welcomed, and the main streets pedestrianised.

Even little Felistowe, not that far away, has a decent stretch of the main street where people can walk without having to keep out of the way of vehicles, and can talk without their words being drowned out by the noise of them.

As for renaming St Botolph’s - sorry, Colchester Town - station, it’s a bonkers ideas.

Who is to pay for it? It’s not just a case of a few signs, there are thousands of ticket machines up and down the country, both in railway stations and at independent vendors (like Trainline) that will need to be changed, and a public to be told about it - there will be little old ladies travelling from miles away who have only just got used to asking for a ticket to Colchester Town - how will they feel if they are told it doesn’t exist any more?

And what impression will it give of the city if tourists arrive at the single-platform ‘city’ station, next to the courts where the black marias are just unloading their passengers for their misdemeanours to be assessed, and wander out to the road junction by the dual carriageway, the mass of bus stops that is a ‘bus station’ and turn around to see the entertainment on offer - a strip club?

Do council taxpayers in Colchester have no concern over how their money is being spent?

Rather than celebrating a somewhat dubious award, shouldn’t the councillors and authorities be setting about improving Colchester, to the benefit of both its residents and visitors?

Phil Button

Mitchell Green, Biggleswade