CARS are set to be banned from Colchester High Street from next week under new plans to make streets safer and greener.

Essex County Council and Colchester Council have worked together on the Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme, which will see a number of interim traffic measures introduced in the town centre and towards North Station.

As part of the plan only cyclists, taxis, buses, motorbikes, blue badge holders and goods vehicles will be allowed to access the High Street.

All other vehicles will be prohibited. Bus routes, taxi bays and delivery access will be maintained where possible although parking may be suspended.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Other initiatives include 20mph limits, temporary barriers and signs providing shared space for cyclists and pedestrians will be introduced in Queen Street, Head Street and other key town centre roads.

The measures, which are described as interim, will come into force on Monday June 15, with preparation work starting on Tuesday.

Mark Cory, leader of Colchester Council, said: “Colchester Council has worked hard during the crisis to keep people safe and now we want to give people the confidence to come back into the town centre, but in a healthier, greener and less polluting way. This is very much seen as a first step, and I hope we can work with the cycling and walking campaign groups to help develop the plans further, making it easier and safer to take the healthy options of travelling in Colchester.”

The project is funded by part of the initial £1.9 million Emergency Active Travel Fund for Essex.

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s infrastructure boss, added: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to greatly improve our air quality and our health as well as the opportunities for the next generation.

“Colchester is one of the first county schemes in the country to use this money to help keep people confidently return to shop and work, as lockdown measures continue to be carefully eased.”

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