Unenforced bus gate in Colchester to be removed

A bus gate that has never been on a bus route looks set to be removed nine years after it was installed, a council said.

Essex County Council documents suggested the bus gate in Olympic Boulevard, Colchester, could be replaced by "no entry" signs in both directions, despite no bus route running there.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Daily Gazette last year revealed no fines had been handed out since the bus gate, which is a short section of road that only buses and authorised vehicles can go through, was introduced in 2015.

Friday is the last day residents can send comments or objections on the proposal to the council.

The council said it was introducing the no entry restrictions to stop Olympic Boulevard being used as a through road by motorists.

Bus services had previously been proposed but were not progressing, it continued.

The proposal also included plans to introduce parking restrictions along some stretches of the road, which connects Via Urbis Romanae and Mill Road in the Mile End area of the city.

Bus stops were painted on the road several years ago, which some drivers park over given the lack of a bus route.

If the plans proceed, Essex County Council will reduce the speed limit on Olympic Boulevard and nine surrounding roads to 20mph (32km/h).