Dear Mr Watkins

Petition: Essex County Council to cancel immediately its plans for the redesign of St. Botolph’s Roundabout in Colchester

Thank you for presenting this petition.

We share your view that the Osborne Street bus interchange does not meet current requirements, and that work is needed to ether significantly improve or create a new facility to support residents. In conversations you have had with the team at various points, we agree about the importance of ensuring good quality public transport facilities as Colchester continues to evolve.

Following the bus capacity study a piece of work is currently getting underway to look at options for the bus interchange moving forward, as this develops the team will be in touch with you to keep you updated on progress. Ultimately new facilities will require funding, and to do that we will need to make the strongest possible evidenced business case to support it. In the short term, we have already made a start in line with the recommendations to upgrade the existing bus stops, increasing capacity.

The funding for the regeneration of St Botolph’s Circus has been provided through the Government’s ‘Levelling up Fund’ which is specifically designed at supporting the regeneration of urban areas. As a key gateway into the city which suffers from poor accessibility, no cycle provisions and has seen well documented safety concerns, St Botolph’s is an area which has been considered for improvements for a number of years. The proposed scheme offers significant opportunity to better connect communities to the south of the city, enhancing accessibility and connectivity, improving safety and improving the general public realm environment. Helping encourage further footfall to drive forward the local economy, it is seen as a necessary part of setting a strong foundation as part of the wider regeneration underway to improve the overall area.

The funding provided is ringfenced for this project, and it is not possible to simply reallocate money elsewhere. Nor would, with respect, your suggestions of a reduced scope of works, help meet the aims of the project.

It is important that projects such as St Botolph’s are not looked at in isolation, the works form part of the wider city centre masterplan, and will, alongside the development of the rapid transit infrastructure help make the case for continued investment into the city to develop the public transport offer.

In regard to the consultation on the St Botolph’s proposals and the engagement undertaken to date, it is very clear those living in the vicinity of St Botolph’s recognise that there is a need to improve this area. The two consultations and supporting events which have taken place in recent years have given opportunity for residents, businesses and local organisations to give their views. All feedback has been considered, and the proposals have been adapted as we have gone through the consultation process.

In terms of the works themselves, as part of the tender process, potential contractors will be required to set out how the works will be phased and delivered, setting out a clear programme and how traffic management will be managed. This will be carefully considered, and ultimately it will be for the network management team to assess any impact on the road network in correlation with other works taking place in the city.

Kind regards,

Kevin

Cllr. Kevin Bentley FRSA CC

 Leader, Essex County Council

Member for Stanway and Pyefleet

Everyone’s Essex