Oppose the Lexden Bus Lane Proposals

I oppose the proposed bus lane. Children are encouraged to walk or cycle to school for health reasons, yet their safety is being disregarded by narrowing the pavements and removing traffic islands.

Keep our kids safe some already walking in the streets due to the volume of kids all at one time

I agree with the opposition to this scheme

Disgraceful. Yet another short-sighted, money wasting 'proposal' to further cripple the town's infrastructure.

Crazy! Who comes up with these ill-thought out expensive schemes . . . pupils on Work Experience? In the recent past CBC/ECC have installed and then very soon suspended costly needless bus lanes into Colchester High Street from Head Street, and also at the bottom of Queen Street onto Botolph's Roundabout and more recently, another one (still to be suspended) at the end of the High Street so that cars wanting to go down Queen Street have to go past and then do a U-turn into the FirstSite entrance road and then approach the junction from the other direction. I have witnessed 5 cars do this at the same time. Not only is this unsafe, it is completely an unecessary humanmade obstruction to the flow of traffic causing a hazard that planners should be held personally responsible for in the event of any accident. Or are they trying to kill shopping in Colchester as well as pedestrians?? Now they want to ruin Lexden Road. It is already nigh impossible walk get past students waiting on the existing pavement for their buses without stepping out into the road. To narrow the pavement and also add a cycle lane is ludicrous and incredibly dangerous. I have personally witnessed a head-on crash when a student cycling on the pavement through the groups of students waiting for their bus outside St Mary's School tried unsuccessfully to ride through the bonnet of a that car he hadn't seen that was turning into the school drive. The congestion in Lexden Road is only for a short time in the beginning and at the end of the school day. This could be alleviated somewhat by repostioning the two bus stops that are outside St Mary's School so that they are not opposite each other and creating the existing traffic bottleneck that prevents other traffic getting past them. Bus laybys might help too?

I have real worries about creating a bus lane on Lexden Road. There are safety issues that must be addressed. In any case, the road is only crowded for 30 to 60 minutes in the morning and late afternoon (on school days only!) There must be a sensible alternative...

This is stupid idea. Money can be spent wisely

This is totally unnecessary given the limited period of time during the day when traffic is busy on this road and it is detrimental to wider road users and residents.

Its a stupid idea

How about spending the money to resurface Lexden Road, it's in a dreadful state. That would be much more beneficial. Maybe look at whether some bus stops could be situated in lay bys. It's the buses having to stop on the carriageway which causes many of the hold ups. Peak time traffic lights at the junction with Norman Way might be sensible too.

I cannot believe that this is a positive move, there are a large amount of schools traffic and pedestrians using this road and narrowing the pavement cannot be considered.

I believe that the proposed changes to the bus stop and crossing near Colchester Hospital is ill considered and potentially dangerous. Many students have little time to reach the bus stop to catch their contracted bus. They are unlikely to walk further down Lexden Rd to cross safely and then walk back up the opposite side to the bus stop.

It is ridiculous to consider creating a bus lane, when Lexden Road is only congested for 45 minutes each day during term time. The potential reduction in the size of the pavements represents a much greater hazard for our children.

I think this scheme is a waste of public money. I have yet to speak to anyone who is in favour of it. I think removing the traffic calming islands will be dangerous. Lexden Road is one of the few remaining beautiful entrances to Colchester,

This is a dangerous and unnecessary use of tax payers' money.

We are really concerned about this new proposed bus lane which will have safety implications for pedestrians (especially school children) and cyclist.

I do not wish to see more congestion on Lexden Road and the removal of traffic calming islands. As a daily user of Lexden Road and Norman Road, I feel these steps will make travelling very dangerous for pedestrians, the bulk of whom are students. The narrowing of pavements and their use by cyclists and pedestrians is a recipe for disaster.

Opposed

Its a crazy idea to narrow the road system in favour of a white elephant. Colchester council could spend its money on something useful for a change. They obviously don't travel (by car) on one of the busiest roads in the town.

We should be encouraging people to walk more or cycle. It would not be safe for children in particular to cycle in this main road or cross the road as a pedestrian if the have to cross bus lanes too.