Mini assembly questions which way for our town centre?

Improving access to our town centre for businesses, residents, workers and visitors was the topic for discussion at a recent Colchester2020 Transport Mini Assembly.

Over the past year the partnership has been bringing key target groups and stakeholders together to get beneath the surface of each of its priorities.

The events have taken on a variety of different formats suited to the topic up for debate, ranging from an activity to help young people see the potential benefits the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics may bring to an Open Space event looking at the future of heritage and culture in the borough.

Around 40 delegates from a range of local interest groups attended the Transport Mini Assembly at Colchester Castle on Wednesday [25 February], and were posed the question ‘Which way for our town centre?’

Jeremy Lucas, Colchester2020 Lead Partner for Transport, said: ‘’We were delighted with the range of groups that attended the event - from transport providers to cyclist and pedestrian groups, the Colchester Access Group and business representatives.

‘’Much of the event was spent in small break-out groups giving everyone present the chance to have their say on the kind of actions they believe would make a real difference to how we all access the town centre.

‘’These thoughts and ideas have all been captured and will help shape our recommendations on future schemes.’’

The keynote speaker at the event was John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.

John first came to Colchester in the early 90s, when Wivenhoe Town Council invited him to look at opening a new foot and cycle path alongside the river from the Hythe to Wivenhoe. The route now has 100,000 users a year.