Walking and cycling to increase in Colchester thanks to £1.3m funding for new active travel route

Planned East Hill active travel route to link up Greenstead and University with town centre.

Cycling and walking from Colchester town centre towards Greenstead and the University of Essex campus is set to become safer, greener and healthier thanks to £1.3 million of new funding awarded to Essex County Council (ECC) from the Department for Transport.

The funding is the first of a phased approach to support the LCWIP 4 (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) for the town centre.

The route, which has also received match funding from the Colchester Town Deal, runs from the High Street down East Hill, starting at the junction with Queen Street and progressing down East Hill. It finishes where the route turns off to become a fully off-road route towards the University. 

The exciting new funding is part of ECC’s ambition for Essex to become the walking and cycling county. This includes making it easier, more convenient and safer for residents to walk or cycle, reducing traffic congestion, cutting air pollution and improving residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Cllr Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “Additional funding coming Colchester’s way will result in even more choice for residents to cycle and walk safely across town.

“Our ambition is to make it easier for more people in Essex to walk and cycle, especially for shorter journeys. We need to be bold if we’re to reduce traffic congestion, cut air pollution and improve road safety in the county. This will ultimately benefit everybody as well as the environment, not just now but for future generations.”

Cllr Paul Dundas, leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “CBC is delighted that this important route has received funding. Improving walking and cycling between the town centre and the University is crucial to the town’s development and renewal.  Joining them up in a coherent way is vital to building the local skills base, integrating the town to the campus and adding value to the student experience. This project will provide a safe, attractive and fast cycling link between the town centre, Greenstead and the University.”