Trial car ban to start in March

3:30pm Monday 21st January 2013 in News

A YEAR-LONG trial banning cars from Colchester High Street will start on Sunday, March 17.

All vehicles bar buses, taxis, bikes and motorbikes will be restricted from the road between 11am and 6pm.

The controversial experiment, launched by Essex County Council and Colchester Council, will be monitored by a working group including traders and residents.

But unless the concerns of traders, who will not be able to use delivery vehicles during the day, are addressed, a public inquiry will need to be held before the much-anticipated changes are made permanent.

See Tuesday's Gazette for the full story.

Comments(56)

FormerColchesterGirl says...
3:49pm Mon 21 Jan 13

I look forward to seeing this actually in action, I mean isn't this the same proposal that was in place for April, September and November last year?

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TheCaptain says...
4:01pm Mon 21 Jan 13

strangely last week this paper said it wouldn't happen before 2014

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Jess Jephcott says...
4:22pm Mon 21 Jan 13

What a waste of time? Ban all motorised vehicles or none at all. Any vehicle is a danger to pedestrians, so what is the point?

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
4:47pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Make the High Street either open to all traffic or close it to to all. Only closing it to certain motorists just won't work.

However, this decision is most probably a good reason to visit Ipswich or Chelmsford and use their Park and Ride to enhance your shopping experience, because Colchester will be closed.

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romantic says...
4:53pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Good. Let´s give it a chance and see if it works. Shops have until 1100 to get deliveries in, which I am sure can be arranged. It is still a bit of a compromise. Personally, I´d like to see it fully pedestrianised, but I do recognise this would involve some changes, especially with regard to the bus routes.

But do let the trial run for a good time. Of course, in the first week or two, there will be people moaning about it, but it has to be given time to bed in before any judgment is made. They say a year. I think we should know within 6 months if it has worked.

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wellnow says...
5:38pm Mon 21 Jan 13

I'm with jess on this one.I thought the idea was to pedestrianise the high street, not see how long we can p*** of the long suffering motorist for.

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johnny64 says...
6:04pm Mon 21 Jan 13

althought i do not live in colchester most of my day is delivering medical to the chemist in and around town center,this means that in the afternoon will not be able to get to town centre and as for all the traffic to go up east hill into queen street is a joke!

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Grabber says...
6:06pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Why let Motorcycles down there ?
And why not start the ban at 10 am that gives plenty of time for deliveries.

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johnny64 says...
6:20pm Mon 21 Jan 13

the shops in town centres are allready dying this ban will just give a push. most towns have better road structure than colchester so they can ban all traffic, and as to say 10 is a ok time is just rubbish. most of your time is sitting in colchester taffic jams because this council like most councils can get nothing right!!

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RB, Lexden says...
7:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13

I can think of at least three businesses
in or off the High Street which will be
adversely affected by this plan.
It is not cars which should be banned
from the High Street: it is councillors.
In this town,they are the problem,not
the solution.

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johnny64 says...
7:33pm Mon 21 Jan 13

well said rb. its not the cars that polute the town have you seen the state of the buses!!!

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Feisty CBC says...
7:48pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Does anyone really go to Chelmsford or Ipswich instead of town? I think not.

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rowhedge-dave says...
7:58pm Mon 21 Jan 13

What a stupid half-baked idea,

So how is that supposed to work, any one with half a brain can see the flaws in the plan!

For example, what happens to the traffic coming up North Hill, or will it now become a one-way street?

As I see it, this is sticky tape solution to years or poor traffic planning within the town.

All it will do is cause a problem/s elsewhere.

A poor plan that is doomed before it even starts and I suspect at a huge financial cost to the town.

Bonkers!

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25414nora says...
8:20pm Mon 21 Jan 13

It's fact, todays shoppers demand the convenience of the car, no one wants to lug shopping bags, and large purchases on the bus, thats why out of town outlets with free parking are taking over.

Closing off high street, can only speed up the process.

One doesn't have to be an A student to envisage: the approach roads to access the town, and car parks, will be choc-a-block..

An empty high street will be of absolutely no gain for buss'es, and taxi's..Or shops..

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taylor08 says...
10:38pm Mon 21 Jan 13

what about the residents in the dutch quarter? some of the roads are only accessible via the High Street as they are 1 way streets. will these be changed to both ways?

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Hamiltonandy says...
10:51pm Mon 21 Jan 13

The elected dictatorship have decided and they are not interested in the public's views now, a year's time or ever. Fortunately shoppers have a choice and can shop out of town. Retail traders can move to other towns. Another "brilliant" idea from the team who brought you the Visual Arts Facility, the phantom "cultural quarter" and the new "bus station".

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theequaliser1 says...
11:19pm Mon 21 Jan 13

good shut the high st give it a try then talk about afterwards simple

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SamEssex says...
11:23pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Well this idea is stupid. Also those going on about deliveries yes we can get a guaranteed morning delivery slot it just costs up to an extra 15-50 quid depending on the size of the delivery.

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Simon Taylor says...
12:07am Tue 22 Jan 13

Seems sensible to me.

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roger bacon says...
12:26am Tue 22 Jan 13

What will happens when we get days like we have had recently with all the snow. What will happens if the delivery vans cannot get to the town centre before 11.00 am. We will have shops with nothing to sell but it will not make much difference as people will not be able to get into town.

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Boris says...
12:30am Tue 22 Jan 13

Jess Jephcott wrote:
What a waste of time? Ban all motorised vehicles or none at all. Any vehicle is a danger to pedestrians, so what is the point?
So, no fire engines or ambulances, then.
How daft can you get?

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EssexRocks1981 says...
1:10am Tue 22 Jan 13

This is why the Car Parks have been changed. To make up for for the lack of disabled access to the High Street. This has been agreed for months regardless of anyone who has opposed.

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Douglas Park says...
8:09am Tue 22 Jan 13

rowhedge-dave wrote:
What a stupid half-baked idea,

So how is that supposed to work, any one with half a brain can see the flaws in the plan!

For example, what happens to the traffic coming up North Hill, or will it now become a one-way street?

As I see it, this is sticky tape solution to years or poor traffic planning within the town.

All it will do is cause a problem/s elsewhere.

A poor plan that is doomed before it even starts and I suspect at a huge financial cost to the town.

Bonkers!
Also nobody's mentioned how much this is going to cost CBC to implement - the new signage required; informing all residents, as well as advertising the changes in neighbouring local press, etc.

About 80% of Colchester town centre is pedestrianised. the same arguments made against traffic in the High St could also be applied to traffic on Head St, St.Johns St, Queens St, etc. Are we to ban cars here too?

Like it or not, the High Street is a main axis in the one-way inner-thoroughfare that has been created. I'm not sure there are that many private cars who use the High St between 11am and 6pm. It's the buses that are the biggest polluters and most precarious road users. However, the buses are essential to bring residents to and from the town and we've seen the furore in the press when bus-stops are relocated and/or removed.

There is no ideal solution, but let's wait and see the outcome of this trial. Let the chaos and confusion commence!

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Bobby Walker says...
8:33am Tue 22 Jan 13

I don't think this trial will work because it has all the drawbacks with none of the advantages.
The high street would be better and more attractive to visitors if it were fully pedestrianised, but people aren't going to use the added space if there are still vehicles using the road.
Perhaps there is some sort of grand plan here to get people used to a change to pedestrianisation. That wouldn't be very honest but I think what has really happened here is a soggy fudge that will please nobody.

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TheCaptain says...
9:03am Tue 22 Jan 13

I note it's the same people complaining about this as those who said the new bus arrangements would cause havoc.

Well it hasn't. There are lots of cars in the town centre during the day.Hopefully banning them will make public transport flow better.

Lets give it a go and if fails then revert and Andy can say "I told you so".

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wellnow says...
9:16am Tue 22 Jan 13

What dosen't one off us see a difference between ordinary and emergency.think before you send your undeserved vitriol.

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RS2011 says...
11:04am Tue 22 Jan 13

Many other towns did this years ago and despite early problems have made it succeed. Surely it's a good idea to make the high street an attractive environment for pedestrians who make up the vast majority of people who visit shops and businesses in the area.

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bev52 says...
11:31am Tue 22 Jan 13

Why are motorbikes going to still be allowed? I would have said they were the worst thing to allow. Have you seen the speed they go down the High Street now, with cars in their way. With no cars to slow them they will be knocking people over like skittles.

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jim_bo says...
6:13pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Whilst i agree that its a terrible idea.

Stand at the side of the road and watch how many cars actually use the High st.
Not many, why cos the constant stopping by the traffic lights make it a very boring drive.

Honestly, when was the last time you drove down the High St, me probably a year ago to look at the Christmas lights with an elderly relative. Otherwise i avoid it like the plague.

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comeonyouirons says...
6:26pm Tue 22 Jan 13

I think some people are missing the word 'Trial'. Let's see what happens. But I do think a lot of shops won't be able to use their supplier of choice, as logistically the deliveries can't be made before 11am and after 6pm.

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Wicky1 says...
6:52pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Excellent! I'm happy as a motorcyclist and a cyclist to have free access to the town centre. Perhaps other folk need to change their mode of transport, rather than moaning.

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Carlosfandangles says...
7:22pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Wow - sounds a great idea.......ok, I am being sarcastic. The principle of taking away the traffic is fine but where is it going to go? I am sure those who are wandering by the charity shops and banks on the High Street will have a great time until they want to go home and are stuck in a queue on Brook Street for ages.
Half a ban is no good to all - it will reduce the number of cars but will not enhance a shopping experience as you will still have to watch out for a bus, cyclist or motorcyclist. Seems pointless to me.
Are the local councillors after yet another legacy decision that will define their term in office? Slaps on the back all round, "I did that" kind of thing.

Again, in principle fine but only if you have adequate provision with alternative routes - Brook Street will not cope!!!

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mirokou says...
8:21pm Tue 22 Jan 13

When i spoke to one of the Regen people I was told they were closing the High street making Head street 2 way again and reversing the flow on Queen street, allowing access from Southway. Otherwise just closing the High street would cause a lot of local traffic issues.

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CJ1989 says...
8:52pm Tue 22 Jan 13

With any luck this start date will be pushed back like all the previous ones, allowing common sense to prevail. I'm not sure it will, but we can hope.

It may well be a trial, but I can imagine it'll be so breathtakingly expensive they'll never un-do it.

From a 30-second glance at a map they'll need to make make head street 2 way (or have an absurd turning around arrangement for the cars that accidentally go up north hill), do something with Southway, have 2 way traffic down west stockwell street (presumably change all the parking restrictions too down there to make it wide enough), sort out the rest of the Dutch quarter so it's accessible, pay some sort of compensation to all the residents and businesses down there who have to re-locate their parking, probably tackle a few legal challenges, pay a fortune in road markings and new signs... The list goes on.

So yes it's a trial, but given the millions they just spend on some raised kerbs (/"bus station"), how much will this 'trial' cost? They'll bankrupt themselves doing it, and won't have the money to change it back a year later, so will do anything to postpone reverting back to the current situation.

Then they'll either keep this half-baked nonsense (we lose out) or they'll change it back, doubling the cost of their initial misadventure (we lose out even more).

Does anyone know who is actually, personally responsible for this plan? Everything seems very vague, we keep hearing it's just 'Essex and Colchester Councils', I want a name to write to!

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DShep says...
7:34am Wed 23 Jan 13

They have messed up the bus station now they are going to mess up the High Street why does this council not get it into their heads that thet are distroying COLCHESTER. Do these people actually live in Colchester and shop here or do they go to Ipswich and Chelmsford etc like a lot of other Colchesterians. Why do they not spend the money repairing potholes/street lighting etc.

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wellnow says...
9:54am Wed 23 Jan 13

Are all the councillors masochistic?

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Jess Jephcott says...
12:02pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I like the council's thinking. They have obviously changed their minds about this to draw the moaning minnies away from the subject of the new bus terminal. I hope they come up with lots of ideas like this, as it keeps the bile flowing and me laughing at you all. ...and thanks CBC. As a motorcyclist, I still get to use the High Street. Love it!

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SamEssex says...
12:11pm Wed 23 Jan 13

jim_bo wrote:
Whilst i agree that its a terrible idea.

Stand at the side of the road and watch how many cars actually use the High st.
Not many, why cos the constant stopping by the traffic lights make it a very boring drive.

Honestly, when was the last time you drove down the High St, me probably a year ago to look at the Christmas lights with an elderly relative. Otherwise i avoid it like the plague.
10 minutes ago I live off of it though lol

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meadowlady says...
1:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I'm getting a green motorbike for St. Patrick's day.

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YesIAm says...
4:07pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Glad this is finally happening...in my view doesn't go far enough though...it should be fully pedestrianised to make the high street a much more pleasant place to shop.

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Jess Jephcott says...
5:24pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Take care Meadowlady. They're not toys.

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jut1972 says...
7:07pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I dont think this will cost as much as you think and if I remember rightly it was ECC who pushed for the trial, so chances are its ECC highways who are paying for it.

The council is damned if it does and damned if it don't... if they do nothing we **** about the death of the town centre, they propose a trial and we still moan.

Allowing motorbikes is just daft though. They can already cut through traffic jams so why they need special treatment escapes me. Just ban all vechiles apart from emerbency vechiles and be done with it.

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Wicky1 says...
8:08pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Why is it daft? - when you can fit 3-5 motorbikes into the space 1 car takes to park. Hopefully they'll expand the bike parking bays in the High St. We are also currently allowed in bus lanes throughout Colchester, as a way of encouraging the use of bikes for urban transport.

"Allowing motorbikes is just daft though. They can already cut through traffic jams so why they need special treatment escapes me."

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jut1972 says...
9:16pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Because this is about pedestrianisation and creating an environment where people can wander around. How long before some idiot who doesn't look both ways is hit by another idiot roaring down the road?

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jut1972 says...
9:16pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Because this is about pedestrianisation and creating an environment where people can wander around. How long before some idiot who doesn't look both ways is hit by another idiot roaring down the road?

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Wicky1 says...
9:44pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Being hit by a bike is a more preferable option than getting hit by a bus or taxi.

Besides if the bike is "roaring" along then the poor pedestrian might have a warning before their paths meet - 'Loud Pipes Save Lives' and all that ;-)

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CJ1989 says...
11:36pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Jess Jephcott wrote:
I like the council's thinking. They have obviously changed their minds about this to draw the moaning minnies away from the subject of the new bus terminal. I hope they come up with lots of ideas like this, as it keeps the bile flowing and me laughing at you all. ...and thanks CBC. As a motorcyclist, I still get to use the High Street. Love it!
If you read the comments, you'll notice that no-one's actually complaining about not being able to drive their cars down the high street.

People are annoyed about not being consulted, having their money wasted, and the knock-on effects on other roads.

It's your money too that's being thrown around, and while you can gleefully cruise down the high street on your bike, you're still going to have to navigate through the congested mess this'll cause in the dutch quarter and other nearby roads.

'Love it'? Each to their own I suppose.

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Jess Jephcott says...
12:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13

It was irony CJ. I want a total ban on motorised vehicles in the High Street. I don't want to be able to ride my bike down a High Street that could and should be used by pedestrians and a market and street cafes. This measure is half hearted and done to appease the whining taxi drivers and obstinate disabled drivers. Colchester's bus users have already proved that they can whine for England and win the contest. Do the job properly CBC or not at all!

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CJ1989 says...
6:51pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Gotcha, apologies for my apparent irony deficiency!

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rowhedge-dave says...
7:20pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Isn’t this a bit like saying someone who suffers from a nut allergy that ”it only contains a few nuts!”

Surely it’s either pedestrianised or its not, and I suspect there is little difference between being knocked over by a taxi or private car.

But perhaps those who came up with this bonkers idea could give a try and report back!

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Joker50 says...
8:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I remember years ago a woman getting killed by a motorbike in the high street, my next door neighbour witnessed it.

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John Vencato says...
1:19am Fri 25 Jan 13

The matter has been talked about for long enough.
It is now the time and the opportunity for all of us to give the experiment a chance to go ahead and function.
If it works then it will be a great enhancement to the town in its new vein.
Should it prove not successful then we can all put our heads together collectively and offer some sensible debate on the issue.
It will start in a lovely time of the year so let us all enjoy the new move with some degree of enthusiasm. John Vencato+

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Carlosfandangles says...
5:22pm Fri 25 Jan 13

One point that is being massively overlooked is what would be attractive about the High Street from a pedestrians point of view if it was fully car, bus and bike free?

Hardly an avenue of delightful shops?

Sitting outside the pubs would be nice......beyond that you have charity shops, fast food joints and banks.

Market stalls may possibly work but only if aligned correctly as not to cause total pedestrian congestion!

Personally, even if pedestrianised, I do not believe it will enhance the town at all.

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Wicky1 says...
5:32pm Fri 25 Jan 13

It's been pending for years - It's only now being implemented with the opening of new courthouse, otherwise they would have had to walk (or go by taxi or bus) the defendants in custody to the old court at the town hall.

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Gladiator of Colchester says...
10:11am Sat 26 Jan 13

As some who deal in cash bank in town, how far are they supposed to walk with their takings and deposits then ??. Should we park in a car park and walk to the bank with a target on our back ??? It is difficult enough now. How will those who buy goods from stores in the High Street that are difficult to carry or require collecting going to collect their goods, do they have to wait till the High Street opens again and the shop has to wait for them, or do they have to come back another day before it closes ??? In some cases, how do those shops deliver their goods if they can't get them from their shop ??? ANSWER...SHOP AND BANK SOMEWHERE ELSE...

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Grabber says...
12:17pm Sat 26 Jan 13

High street banks have access from Culver street west which is open to cars before 11am and after 4pm Monday to Thursday no need to go down the high street.

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