The short section of cycleway on Head Street is just the start (Seana Hughes) |
Read the latest on the city's cycling infrastructure |
Dear <<First Name>>
Stuart Johnson, Will Bramhill and Nat Catchpole met Essex County Council and Essex Highways officers last week for a catch-up on what is happening and when.
In brief:
:: East Hill/High Street East has been tweaked after various comments made during the public consultation last summer. Will, Stuart and Nat believe it is a far better scheme given the constraints that Essex is working under. Both Active Travel England and ECC safety audit officers have agreed to the new details, which will now be put out for a second round of traffic regulation orders.
Please watch for this new consultation: positive comments from cycling campaign members are highly valued. |
Among the changes from the earlier scheme are no floating bus stops, a better arrangement outside Honey and Harvey, the restaurant opposite the castle, and a realignment at Lewis Gardens which will further dissuade motorists from doing illegal U turns. |
:: The cycleway beside the new bus lane on the Northern Approach Road, above, is nearly complete and should be open in a matter of weeks. It will provide the first car-free direct link to Colchester Hospital and enable people from out of town to park and bike (using their own cycle or a Dott bike).
:: Work on new sparrow-like crossings at the Albert roundabout is due to start in late spring/summer. :: Watch for work soon around Wellesley Road at the junction with Southway/Lexden Road. Although the gradient here has meant we can't get exactly what we want, some mitigation is being put in place. |
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:: Work at St Botolph's roundabout, above, is due to start in January and last until spring 2027. With news last month of a 17-year-old being knocked off her bike there (see below), and a vicious assault in the underpass, the changes cannot come soon enough.
:: Work has been completed on lining and signing at St John's Street into Vineyard Street.
:: Essex is still talking to National Rail about straightening the kink to reach the tunnel off Alan Palmer Way that connects to Petrolea Way and the southern slopes of High Woods.
We are trying to ascertain whether a path across the southern slopes of High Woods to connect Petrolea Way with Havering Close is still on the agenda; likewise whether Brick Kiln Lane will get an asphalt surface. |
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:: Work on the rapid transport bus lane at the western end of Clingoe Hill is on time thanks to a good contractor and very few issues. The campaign and Active Travel England helped to tweak the design of the cycle crossing, above, which will connect the Hythe with the new East Colchester Garden Community. The latest drone shots are here. |
Sofia and Chia Oh: Sofia is recovering and the campaign's Kim and Simon Barnetson have offered to show her a quieter route to use to get to school |
Police reopen inquiry after girl's mother obtains CCTV clip |
Police have reopened their inquiry into a crash involving a cyclist and a driver in which Sofia Oh, a 17-year-old sixth form student, was injured as she rode from her home in the Hythe to Colchester Royal Grammar School.
The incident happened on Tuesday, March 4, at 8.55am, as Sofia crossed St Botolph's roundabout from Magdalen Street to go straight over to join Southway.
Chia Oh, Sofia's mother, said: "The car came from behind to the left of her – we think either from behind her or from Mersea Road."
She said a woman at the scene offered to exchange details but Sofia was in shock and declined to give her number. The woman then drove off while passersby helped Sofia. Police weren't called at the time. As far as we know, the driver did not report the incident.
Despite being in pain Sofia continued to school then texted her mother. She later went to A&E and was found to have suffered skeletal bruising.
Chia, a 46-year-old marketing manager, posted about the incident on the Colchester Community Group (UK) on Facebook, which led to the campaign approaching her to offer help. This included advising her to speak to the city council to obtain CCTV footage and making her aware of the free legal cover that comes with Cycling UK membership.
Chia also reported the incident to the police via their online portal.
A week later the campaign followed up ... and Chia said the police had emailed to say they had closed the investigation. |
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St Botolph's roundabout looking back towards Magdalen Street; Mersea Road is on the right of the picture (Google Street View) |
By now however Chia had the CCTV clip from the council, which showed the incident.
She went back to the police who reopened their inquiry. The campaign understands that the keeper of a car has been sent a letter under s172 of the Road Traffic Act which requires them to name who was driving the vehicle at a certain time.
Sofia is now recovering although Chia says the incident not only affected her daughter physically but mentally too. "The next day she was traumatised – 'more fragile’ is how she put it. She is feeling paranoid about going on the road now."
The campaign's Kim and Simon Barnetson have offered to show Sofia quieter routes from home to school.
Chia said: "I am thankful to the Colchester community for their messages, support and advice.
"I still can’t believe Sofia got hit by a car. Before this incident she wanted a motorcycle! I wasn’t keen on the bicycle either but she was tired of walking and doesn’t like the bus. " It is scary being a parent and having your child cycle on the road."Essex Police said: “We are investigating [this] collision. The cyclist suffered some injuries which were thankfully not life-threatening or life-changing. This investigation has included the reviewing of CCTV. Our inquiries remain ongoing.” Stuart Johnson, the campaign chairman, said: "This incident shows that the work on St Botolph's roundabout and the roads leading to it cannot come soon enough. We are pleased that we have been able to help Sofia and Chia to sort this matter out." • Chia found that her home insurance policy gives her free legal cover and she is taking advantage of that. Read the Gazette story here |
• The 20's Plenty for Colchester group met last month to plan its next steps after the city council's unanimous vote to introduce 20mph "where people want it". However we don't want 20mph zones (which have been scrapped in Wales because they don't work), we want an area-wide default of 20mph with adjustments in roads such as Southway, Balkerne Hill and Westway. On March 12 Jean Quinn spoke to the city cabinet. Her piece is from 16:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Vt0u3Z1mQ. Jean and Stuart Johnson submitted seven questions to ask about progress. We are going through their detailed answers and will respond shortly. |
Shorty cargo bike for sale |
Old Heath Bike Kitchen is selling a Shorty cargo bike with just 220 miles on the clock. They have a genuine reason for the sale: the Shorty carries only cargo and the folk at the kitchen want to buy another people-carrying cycle to offer for hire. Details here. |
Neat shelter, shame about the access |
The cycle shelter at Beth Chatto's, complete with roof garden |
A campaign member was delighted to see this newish cycle shelter on a recent visit to Beth Chatto's garden at Elmstead Market. A little research found that it is made by a company called Green Roof Shelters of London, and all their shelters include Beth Chatto plants on the roof.
Sheepishly the member admitted that they arrived at the gardens by car -- they said the A133 Clacton Road outside was too fast (60mph) and busy to countenance a right turn into the premises on a bike.
If you would like more details of Green Roof shelters, call Duncan Kramer on 020 7485 7618.
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Verily, across the Mersea |
Neil Allen has volunteered to represent the cycling campaign in talks over a new off-road pathway to connect East Mersea and West Mersea, an idea put forward by the Mersea Island Society. Also included on a planning sub-committee are members of the Ramblers, Essex Bridleways Association and the British Horse Society. Neil will be unavailable for a few weeks over summer (he's touring*). He also dislikes video meetings. If this scheme is of interest and you could be his substitute, please contact Neil at neil@colchester-cycling.org.uk.
For general details of the scheme, contact Lucy White at lucyelizabeth12@hotmail.co.uk* By "touring" we mean cycle touring, even though Neil is nearly as old and good looking as Mick Jagger. |
This is your chance to help fund the campaign. If you like what we do, please fund us via Buy Me a Coffee. |
Hi-tech in highway planning |
Everyone is amazed at the speed of advances in technology ... but the public tends not to see what is happening with traffic management.
We can tell you that it is stunning! Essex Highways is using VivaCity's artificial intelligence sensors to collect real-time traffic data to back up their schemes. And by traffic, we mean cars, bikes, buses, lorries and pedestrians
Read about what VivaCity can do here:
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Will Bramhill, the campaign secretary, was on BBC Radio Essex recently (NB, that's NOT Will, above). After his slot, a female caller came on to further speak up for cyclists. She said she had been involved in a court case many years ago where the judge ruled that "a cyclist is entitled to his wobble".
Will has looked online without success. Can anyone with access to historical legal papers pin down the case please? |
Watch out for the "Spring on to Your Bike" event, coming this month. The city council and Colchester BID (the central business improvement district) are joining forces to promote cycling to people who work in the city centre.
Add the date to your diary: Wednesday, April 16, 4pm-7pm. More details on the poster above.
Groups taking part will include Colchester Secure Bike Park, Colchester eCargo, the Bike Library, Colchester Bike Kitchen, Re-Cycle Bikes to Africa, Essex Police, BikeWise, Love to Ride and Bikeability (offering free cycle training to adults). |
Colchester Cycling Campaign used Email Octopus to create this newsletter. If you would like to do the same for your organisation please use this link https://emailoctopus.com/?urli=XN4MS. The campaign and the new group each get a "new joiner" benefit of 15 USD (about £12). |
An end to fines for profit? |
The campaign has been keeping a close eye on the issue of fixed penalty notices since last May when several city cyclists were fined. Colchester council apologised and now operates a system of "behaviour not location" which means that only egregious cycling is penalised.
Nationally however various towns and cities still fine cyclists based on location, which means riders are penalised even if they ride considerately on a footway to avoid a busy road. What is more, this is done by companies that offer "free" warden patrols, with their income coming from the penalties they levy.
This works against all the good noises coming from councils that are trying to encourage cycling.
Fortunately the Manifesto Club is on the case. It reports that its recent talks with Defra, the environment department, were positive. It said: "We’re working with MPs and peers to ban fining for profit nationally. A few months ago, Defra dismissed the idea. Now, after pressure from us (and you), they say they are 'considering it'."Michelle Sparks, the new Colchester chief inspector, has also spoken against two-tier policing. When questioned by Darius Laws, the chairman of the city's crime and disorder panel, she said: " You’re absolute right, we shouldn’t have two-tier policing, and it is something that I would very much argue against.” PSPO fines jump 42 per cent in 2023 |
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More new homes for Great Horkesley |
The campaign committee is considering its response to plan 250545 for 150 homes to the north of Coach Road, Great Horkesley. Note that this is not the Horkesley Manor scheme that will be funding the cycleway between Horkesley and Trinity School – it is in the north of the village. As far as s106 "planning gain" is concerned we are thinking of asking for a contribution to a spine route to the west of and parallel with the A134 (this is a longstanding ambition). |
A possible route for a spine cycleway through Great Horkesley would make use of quiet roads and cut-throughs |
We will also ask for Coach Road to be made 20mph where it skirts the development (currently unrestricted) and for cycle/foot access to be maintained via the north of the new site into Pattinson Walk and Tile House Lane, which links directly into Ivy Lodge Road, giving another safer crossing of the A134. Another idea would be to request funds for a link to Armory Road in West Bergholt from Brick Kiln Lane. If you have any ideas, please put them to the committee. The development will also be referred to Active Travel England. |
Looking west into Tile House Lane from the A134/Ivy Lodge Road mini-roundabout. We asked for this path for cyclists but note the lack of a dropped kerb from the roundabout |
Marks Tey new homes meeting |
A public meeting is to be held in Marks Tey to discuss the effects of the Colchester City Council strategy for the local plan, which calls for 2,500 more homes for the village.
Marks Tey's neighbourhood plan group is worried that, despite the addition of about 7,500 people, no improvements to infrastructure are planned. The meeting is at the Recreation Hall, Marks Tey, CO6 1EJ,s on Saturday April 26, 5pm-8pm.
The cycling campaign meanwhile continues to press MPs and National Highways for a better cycle bridge over the A12 and A120 to connect the south and north sides of the village. |
Dott bikes reach northern and eastern villages |
The range for Dott hire bikes has now been extended to cover Marks Tey railway station and the village itself, as well as Great Horkesley and West Bergholt. The bikes' geolocator software means they only work within a certain territory. Be sure to check the map on the app! |
Disputed fence must be taken down |
A fence put up by neighbours across an alleyway at Bourne Court, Berechurch, between John Castle Way and Dudley Court, must be taken down, a planning inquiry has ruled. Gazette story here |
Plan rejected 'because of lack of high quality streets' |
A cycle path in the Hythe is a step closer after plans for a three-storey, 66-bedroom care home on the former site of the Paxman Diesels factory were rejected. One of the reasons for the planning decision was that the proposed layout "fails to provide high quality streets and spaces". Colchester councillor Mike Lilley has been on the case. Gazette story here |
National news you might have missed |
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Next Bike Meet is our AGM: Tuesday, April 15 at 8pm |
This meeting will be our AGM (we had to postpone it last month). We hope to have the owner of Future Bikes of Rowhedge as our speaker, giving a talk about the shop they are opening in south Colchester. |
If you are signed up as a member or supporter of the cycling campaign, you will receive joining instructions for this video meeting via email. |
Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello – this month we feature a line up of Colchester's finest, all on bikes, in 1912. Actually we'll qualify that: we believe them to be the Colchester Borough Police but can't be certain as the picture isn't good enough to see the helmet plates.
Ann Turner, who was the city's first female detective in 1972, said that in 1912 the police station was in the basement of the town hall.
"If you stand on the corner of High Street and West Stockwell Street and look at the town hall, you will see a window at ground floor level, low down." Ann said. "That was the chief constable's office."
The borough force moved from the town hall to Queen Street during the Second World War and then to Southway in the 1990s. |
The town hall and the chief constable's window (Google Street View) |
Ann added: "I cannot recognise the photo's location but it could have been anywhere. It was obviously before the First World War as none of the men are wearing campaign medals."
Will Bramhill, the campaign secretary, said: "Over the years Colchester Cycling Campaign has tried to get more police out on cycle patrol, especially as it works so well in London.
"The advantage is that constables can cover three to four times the area that they can on foot in the same time, and they are visible to far more people, especially Johnny Lightfingers.
"In rural areas we have suggested that Essex Police pop a couple of Bromptons in their rural police station 'van' then ride out to meet people." |
Try a ride in good company |
days since the bridge at Middle Mill shut |
... progress is painfully slow! |
days since Boxted bridge shut |
... and no news on this either! |
Hey boss, sign the charter! |
Have you signed the Colchester Cycling Charter yet? If not, please do. If you work or volunteer, please ask your organisation to sign too. The more people on bikes, the fewer traffic jams will snarl up our city. |
Don't bin me... pass me on |
Feel free to pass on this newsletter via email and social media by using the link at the very top ... and encourage your friends to join the campaign so they receive their own copy every month. |
Chairman: Stuart JohnsonVice-secretary: Will BramhillTreasurer: Catherine Johnson Your committee: Alex Hooper, Chris Stevenson, Jean Quinn, Nathaniel Catchpole, Alan Spence and Paul Byrne |
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