I WALKED down the High Street today and I am not convinced the temporary closure is justified.

Being 76, I am happy that it is better to err on the safe side.

The problem is the idea is riding on the coat-tails of the pandemic into becoming a permanent feature.

The last time this was being considered by Colchester Council, many people turned up at the meeting; most of whom lived in the town centre and raised objections.

So, the plan was put on the back burner.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that there could be significant advantages in closing the High Street to through traffic, but what we need is a plan - the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle being the ending of through traffic.

Just shutting it will immediately lead to more congestion on streets such as Brook Street, Magdalen Street and North Station Road.

These streets are already considered to be heavily polluted and partially responsible for premature deaths for those with chest problems.

Firstly, Essex County Council needs to finish the Ipswich Road roadworks.

We then need additional and effective park and ride systems, perhaps at Stanway and in the east of the town.

We need to use the land near Hythe station - it is currently used as a large parking area for unused vehicles - for some sort of shuttle service to St Botolph’s and North Station.

We need a better bus service which is considerably cheaper than the cost of town centre parking and run as a single entity with more services and cleaner vehicles, perhaps with a proper bus interchange station.

We then need to raise parking charges in town with free parking for electric and hybrid cars, as well as the cycling improvements.

We then need a system to enable access via the High Street for residents and delivery in the town for those living in the Dutch Quarter, Priory Street, Roman Road and Castle Road and the roads off the bottom of East Hill.

The technology exists. The High Street can then be closed to others except, buses and taxis and notified delivery vehicles.

Alan Short

Oaks Drive, Colchester