North Station Road set to become a conservation area

One final round of public consultation will take place on amended plans to create the protected area along North Station Road in Colchester between Middleborough and the Albert roundabout over the coming weeks.

The protection will also cover Belle Vue Road, the northern end of North Station Road, Digby House and the riverside area on the way to Castle Park after intervention from councillors.

At a meeting of the council’s Local Plan committee Lewis Barber (Con, Lexden and Braiswick) said the move would be good news for the area.

He said: “I think this is excellent, just as I did last year when we first looked into it.

“I think it is a really exciting project and an example of what we do best here as an authority.

“Where we can, we should look into with our partners at Essex Highways which is putting in proper cycling infrastructure because I think this is a key link.”

However, Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell said there still needed to be conservation area map.

He said: “If you want to have a conservation area, then to exclude Colne Bank Avenue and Albert Street and some of the houses in that part of the town is ludicrous.”

Colchester Council believes if North Station Road becomes the town’s fourth conservation area, it will give greater protection from development and commercial activities in the area.

After the plans were first announced, the council submitted a bid to secure a £900,000 grant for improvements to the area.

The council did not secure the cash, which would have been used to reinstate a row of trees, helping shop owners to make their frontages more elegant and refurbishing North Bridge.

But councillors agreed alternative funding options should be explored.

• Lewis Barber is standing in the Lexden & Braiswick ward in the upcoming local elections. The other candidates are: Roger Bamforth (Green); Thomas Stevenson (Lib Dem); Conrad Winch (Lab).