Colchester traders excited by Brighton Lanes-style scheme known as Colchester Walls (From Essex County Standard)
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Colchester traders excited by Brighton Lanes-style scheme known as Colchester Walls
8:50pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News
New image – Long Wyre Street
TRADERS say they are excited about plans to create a shopping area in Colchester, inspired by Brighton’s Lanes.
The borough council proposal would create a signposted route from Priory Street to Balkerne Lane, taking in the variety of small shops in Short Wyre Street, Sir Isaac’s Walk, Trinity Street and Church Street.
The trail would be known as “Colchester Walls”, echoing the Brighton Lanes theme, but with a nod to the town’s Roman history.
More than 140 businesses are backing the idea and are due to find out more at a meeting at Lion Walk Church, Colchester, on September 24 at 5.30pm.
Ron Levy, secretary of Colchester Retail Business Association, said almost every business approached about the project had backed it.
He added: “It has been a delight. The reaction from the retailers has been phenomenal. They are so excited about it.
“I think the meeting is going to be very well attended. They think it is one of the most fantastic things done for retailers in Colchester in many years.”
Interpretation boards, blue plaques, new lighting and paving have already been up to in the area.
Mr Levy said: “This project can highlight the virtues of all that is distinctive about Colchester Walls and its many different assets.
“It can be used to reveal the special identity and character, and the mixture of independent businesses along the route and enhance retail performance.”
Traders from Norwich, where a similar scheme is already in operation, will answer questions.
The council has spend £14,000 getting an outside body, based in Norwich, to draw up plans, but had declined to reveal fill details until it has met business people.
It has also yet to explain how the project would be funded.
Comments(15)
Feisty CBC
says...
9:38pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Johnny T wrote:Can't argue with that post.
Who comes up with this ****
N.T.Franklin
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9:38pm Wed 5 Sep 12
25414nora
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9:45pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Newsgatherer
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10:11pm Wed 5 Sep 12
N.T.Franklin
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10:52pm Wed 5 Sep 12
fnagwaa
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11:40pm Wed 5 Sep 12
PROOFREADER
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8:15am Thu 6 Sep 12
Newsgatherer wrote:Yes you are right. I remember the little lanes we had such as King Street, Schewel Road, Lion Walk and Culver Street before it was split in two.
Pity the rest of the little shopping 'Lanes' in the town center were knocked down in the 60's/70's to build two shopping precincts!
The REAL Norm
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9:30am Thu 6 Sep 12
Ignoring the spend/spent error, you wonder why they didn't put this cash into the Colchester economy? Maybe the £14k should have been spent on fixing the Vineyard lift.
The 1000s of visitors coming in by public transport (!) to the new Barton's Folly Bus Station won't be happy climbing steps to join the Colchester Walls trail.
It would be great to tell you which 'consultancy' in Norwich took the cash but Colchester Council can't be ar*ed to publish their spending data any more http://www.colcheste
r.gov.uk/opendata
The April and May tables are just a renamed December 2011 file. Is this Council accountable to anyone? Is there any external body able to investigate their incompetence?
Scoot
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10:37am Thu 6 Sep 12
hughie-s
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12:15pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Ritchie_Hicks
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12:26pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Scoot wrote:It's a fair point well made.
Great idea but surely look at the solution of attracting people into town first. The fact, whether we like it or not, is most people do use their cars as it gives them freedom to come and go as they please. Colchester council should immediately look at employing a consultant to solve the traffic problems in the town which seem to have got worse since bus lanes popped up everywhere. Its easier and quicker for me to travel from Tendring to and from Ipswich than Colchester on Saturdays.
Johnny T
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7:50pm Thu 6 Sep 12
burlyb
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12:14pm Sat 8 Sep 12
ok into it you mugs
wellnow
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8:22am Sun 9 Sep 12
Johnny T says...
9:05pm Wed 5 Sep 12