Oppose the Lexden Bus Lane Proposals

I am concerned that the proposals would be detrimental to the safety of both pedestrians and cyclists, especially at the beginning and end of the school day. Large groups of school students gather at the bus stops around 3.30pm and narrowing the pavement would make it more likely that they will spill out into the road. For most of the day Lexden Road does not carry much traffic and a bus lane seems unnecessary.

The only times of day that Lexden Road is congested is once in the morning and once in the afternoon at start and finish school times, otherwise the traffic flows freely. How can the council even think about spoiling the best road in Colchester, its beyond belief. The problem with the road is the section past Church Lane near the pub, stop cars parking and introduce double yellow lines, problem solved!!

Dangerous idea, the area is used by too many school children, reducing the pavements to allow bikes will force children into the road and the crossings will become very dangerous

Unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Any congestion is generally negligible and if it does arise, it only arises for a short time, weekdays and term time only.

I think the risks, cost, disruption and compromise of space and safety of pedestrians and cyclists alike far outweigh the benefits of traffic flow into the town centre.

This is totally unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers money!! Spend it on tidying up the town!

Along with your other Local Councillors members will be aware that I am fully in support of this campaign by residents - and indeed I have been right from the start. We have suggested which elements of the plans as were shown to us ( for the first time) at the recent exhibition at CRGS have some merit - but these do not include either the bus lane or the cycle lane proposed. There are other and better ways to secure the aim of the plan - which appears to be to serve the future access requirements of Stanway and Marks Tey in to Colchester , as I have outlined -notably planning any such enhanced access if such is required, along Cymbeline Way. It is unlikely that the planners would have had in mind as one of their objects the ruin of Lexden Road per se : nonetheless were the plan as currently shown to us to be implemented , that would be the inevitable consequence. Please think again : once it's gone....... it's gone Roger Buston Councillor Prettygate Ward Colchester Borough Council [email protected] Sent from my iPhone

Waste of money and may become dangerous

There have been accidents on this road already without these silly ideas from Chelmsford

Please do not narrow the footpaths & also turn them into cycle paths, and at the same time increase the speed limit. We do not want children killed on their way to and from school (or anyone else). I have regularly had to break when a school child has stepped off the pavement as they are not currently wide enough for the volume of people using them!

I am objecting to the widening of Lexden rd to provide a bus lane for the following reasons. a) By reducing the width of a heavily pedestrianized pavement which is used by the densely populated residents, local schools ,Nursery's & businesses in the area and combining the use with a cycle lane will Inevitably increase the risk of incidents on this stretch of road b) The proposed solution is overkill for the problem that it is trying to resolve. a much more cost affective and less risky solution would be to install recessed bus stops into a small section of the walkways like they have at Colchester North Station. c) The scheme will negatively compromise the appearance of the road which has to be one of the nicest roads leading into our Town. d) has any consideration been made for any trees that will have to be removed to facilitate this scheme? e) The money that would need to be spent to accomplish such a scheme needs to be spent on repairing the existing highways which are an embarrassment to our town. f) By installing affectively a 4 lane carriageway, you dramatically increase the risk of pedestrians been knocked over at the crossing points this is due to the visibility splay caused by high sided vehicles which you cant see through and therefore will not be able to see someone crossing until its too late. g) residents exiting out of their driveways (especially reversing) onto lexden road will need to cross a bus lane which will have a faster speed of traffic to negotiate. They will also have a reduced pavement in which to determine when to join the road. Most of the residents have very low visibility splays due to the length of time and guidance in place when their driveways were created. Traffic was also significantly less. This Scheme is not supported by me and hope that the council take the time to re-evaluate the real requirements for this bus lane scheme as there really is no need to waste the public purse on such a scheme.

Crazy waste of money.

Dangerous and a waste of money!

I am concerned about the safety of the local school children when the pedestrian area will become narrowed.

Stupid idea... Look at how screwed the high street is, North hill and Queen Street... Not to mention the complete buffoonery of yet another set of traffic lights recently installed at Brook Street. Just another cash cow

What an ill thought out scheme !

Narrowing the pavement will cause more danger to the children and is a complete waste of our money.

Waste of time and money and above all else very dangerous having pavements narrowed in the busiest school area in the town with children packed on the pavements alongside a fast bus lane! Perhaps invest some money into some speed bumps or camera's down Cambridge Road which is used as a short cut at A12 speed!

This scheme is not necessary and I do not believe it will change any congestion at rush hour timesand will create more danger for school children. Born and bred in Colchester this will change the area and in times of austerity this is not an essential or appropriate use of tax payers money.

What a waste of time and money completely ridiculous idea.