Green and Blue Spaces - Register

Ended on the 5 January 2024

Existing Waterways

Form ID 10281

Site 
Waterways - Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre
Respondent 
Colchester East Action Group
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Its biodiversity value is important.
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other improvements 
Comments 
No more boats or fishing, this should just be for nature.

Form ID 10282

Site 
Waterways - Hythe Quay area of River Colne
Respondent 
Colchester East Action Group
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Its biodiversity value is important.
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other improvements 
Comments 
No more boats or fishing, this should just be for nature.

Form ID 10352

Site 
Waterways - Hythe Quay area of River Colne
Respondent 
Sophie Paterson
How do you use this waterway 
Other uses 
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other improvements 
Comments 
I am ignorant about the infrastructure here, and what its limits are, but I feel that this section of the river is very under-utilised. Under different urban planners in the past, it could have been turned into a wonderful place for recreation, history and nature, making the most out of a natural feature within an urban centre. Instead, it is drab and lined with residential blocks.

Form ID 10472

Site 
Waterways - Hythe Quay area of River Colne
Respondent 
Oliver Hall
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Walking next to the waterway
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other
Other improvements 
Repair the dock/retaining wall
Comments 
The retaining wall at the edge of the river has collapsed and closed the path that used to run across it. The retaining wall needs repairing.

Form ID 10235

Site 
Waterways - Mersea Beach, River Colne
Respondent 
Nathaniel Catchpole
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other
Other improvements 
Ferry to Dengie peninsula
Comments 
Would like to see a foot/bicycle ferry service, similar to the Mersea -> Brightlingsea -> Point Clear service, connecting Mersea to Bradwell-on-Sea or another suitable point on the Dengie peninsula. This would benefit tourism on both directions and be considerably faster than using roads or public transport.

Form ID 10224

Site 
Waterways - Part of River Colne south of Alresford Creek
Respondent 
The Wivenhoe Society
Agent / Agent 
Mrs jane black
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other
Other improvements 
Comments 
there is concern that the Colne is silting up. Improvements to footpath surfaces adjacent to the river would be desirable (including the unadopted parts of the Quay).

Form ID 10614

Site 
Waterways - Part of River Colne south of Alresford Creek
Respondent 
Rowhedge Walking Football Club
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
sailing
How could this waterway be improved? 
Cleanliness, Access for launching small boats etc
Other improvements 
Comments 
Water quality remains a significant issue particularly downstream of Colchester. Swimmers are regularly seen off white house beach. Users of small craft such as paddle boards and kayaks are also at risk.
Consideration needs to be given to any further development of wildlife and flood management. Recent changes to the sea wall and managed retreat have altered the channel and significantly increased the amount of silting in the river. Recent dry periods have reduced fresh water flow exacerbating the problem. This is negatively impacting leisure and tourism use.The influence of social media means that there has been a marked increase in leisure marine traffic on the Colne and tributaries and facilities for launching and recovery are limited.
Antisocial behaviour is a concern and the presence of patrols is welcomed. This also contributes to the safety of less experienced river users.

Form ID 10216

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 1
Respondent 
Mr Steve Waters
How do you use this waterway 
Rowing / canoeing / Paddleboarding
Other uses 
How could this waterway be improved? 
Access for launching small boats etc
Other improvements 
Comments 
There should be portage points at the old swimming pool, middle mill and east gates.
The extent of the area should run from spring lane roundabout to east gates
The sluice at middlemill should be replaced with a canoe friendly sluice gate giving a usable wave and flow

Form ID 10227

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 1
Respondent 
Mr David Gilmour
How do you use this waterway 
Rowing / canoeing / Paddleboarding
Other uses 
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other
Other improvements 
Portage/Access points
Comments 
Firstly, this section is recorded as tidal. The river doesn't become tidal until you get past the weir at East Gates.
Secondly, the only organisation currently holding a licence to paddle this section of the Colne is Colchester Canoe Club. I would suggest day passes would be required to open this up to additional paddlers/river users. Also, portage/ access points would be requited for people to be able to use the river.
The river is generally free from rubbish as the local Canoe club volunteers regularly clean it up.

Form ID 10470

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 1
Respondent 
Miss Rachel Bosler
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
walking and cycling alongside
How could this waterway be improved? 
Cleanliness, Access for launching small boats etc
Other improvements 
Comments 
please clean this area - there are traffic cones in the water and they have been there for years. I love water sports but wouldn't dream of getting in this water as leaving traffic cones in there for years makes it seem unclear and poorly maintained

Form ID 10517

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 1
Respondent 
Miss Sarah Manning
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Watching and enjoying nature
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other
Other improvements 
Maintained primarily for wildlife
Comments 
The Colne is a beautiful river, and should primarily exist, and be maintained, for nature, not watersports; not only is this an incredibly-human-centric view to take, the river is too narrow, shallow, and urban to be suitable for this.

Form ID 10283

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 2
Respondent 
Colchester East Action Group
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Its biodiversity value is important.
How could this waterway be improved? 
Other improvements 
Comments 
No more boats or fishing, this should just be for nature.

Form ID 10518

Site 
Waterways - Roman River, River Colne 2
Respondent 
Miss Sarah Manning
How do you use this waterway 
Other
Other uses 
Walking, birdwatching, enjoying nature
How could this waterway be improved? 
Cleanliness, Other
Other improvements 
Regular maintenance for river health
Comments 
The poor river is choked up with silt, rubbish and probably thousands of shopping trolleys. The build up of silt no doubt contributes to the flooding of Haven Road twice a day, every day, and is the result of decades of neglect. The dense housing (in the form of high-rise flats and student accommodation) has led to a massive increase of rubbish and pollution entering the water, which to my knowledge is not managed in any way. The number of waders and other waterfowl has dramatically decreased in the last decade, despite the river itself as well as the surrounding marshland at Wivenhoe being a valuable and not overly common habitat. Again, instead of viewing the river as simply a venue for watersports and other human activities, it should - and must - be managed primarily for the wildlife that depend on it. The enjoyment and health boost that people can then gain from it cannot be measured in terms of profit, but is in itself invaluable.
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