Survey Questions
The history The size Being a garrison town
Increase tourism through the development and promotion of the historical sites in and around the area (many people know of the Roman history, but less about the Normans, or the Civil War) - maybe introduce a City tour bus. Re-connecting St John's Green / Abbey Fields area with the City Centre. The general consensus amongst artists attending the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe has been that the festival has lost its focus, and has become overly commercial. With Colchester's location, history, and the fact the City already attracts many top names, there is an opportunity to develop a pre-Edinburgh festival, where artists can try out their material, before the expense of going to Edinburgh. If managed properly, it could eventually lead to Colchester becoming a rival to Edinburgh. Approval for any new building work within the City Centre should be limited to those celebrating the history of the City through their appearance (ie the facades should resemble buildings prior to WW2).
It's historical importance The arts Ease of movement
Difficult to answer as feel Colchester has been ruined by over development and the town/city been left to become very run down. The only positive for me is Castle Park and the castle.
Please please do not permit any more building of houses without the infrastruture to support it. Addiitionally instead of being blinkered vision on cycling make the roads fit to drive on. Not everyone is able to cycle everywhere. Support the heritage of being a roman town. The original town was once so quaint with all the old buildings. Not everything in life is about destroying what you have for the new. Think here towns like Chester and York . Sorry this seems negative, but honesty I feel is the best policy.
Heritage, music venues and cleanliness.
VIBRANT SOCIAL LIFE RURAL AREAS SURROUNDING THE CITY GOOD RAIL LINKS
Regenerate the city centre with less emphasis on out of town facilities Find ways to encourage business into the city Improve transport links especially to the south of the city Better promote the historical locations within the city eg the Roman walls, castle and abbey.
History Entertainment Business friendly
1. Its access to job opportunities for all, ensuring workforce retention in local housing. This ensures the local generation of revenue that helps sustain the delivery of essential public services to the community. 2. Its ambitions and recognition of opportunity mean that it is a place people want to live, work, play in and visit. 3. Its connectedness; to London and the wider East of England, in addition to the coast and countryside, by road, rail, air and sea.
1. Economic development should continue to be fostered in Colchester, to strengthen and diversify local economies to provide more jobs and ensure that business opportunities are retained locally, not lost to other locations. Hand in hand with this, it is important that Colchester continues to recognise the need to connect, and integrate the location of jobs with housing, which would reduce the need to travel and promote sustainable growth. Housing should be within easy reach of employment, for which there is scope at marks Tey. 2. Providing for a sustainable pattern of development, enabling the creation of healthy and vibrant communities. It is important for the Council to make the most of Colchester’s strategically advantageous position with good access to London, the Port of Harwich, Stansted Airport and Ipswich. Sustainable development of the future should capitalise on opportunities to create sustainable land use patterns that maximise accessibility between jobs, homes, services and facilities, for instance by allocating further available land around Marks Tey for employment development such as the former By Pass Nurseries site off Old London Road and Dobbies Lane. Marks Tey is exceptionally well located, benefitting from an excellent strategic position adjacent to the A12 and mainline railway station but with remarkably little growth to date. Growth in this location would build on the planned growth of A12 Interchange Park immediately to the north-east and would provide for a sustainable pattern of development help improve accessibility to business opportunities within the City and beyond. 3. Responding appropriately to the Climate Emergency, in response to the City Council’s declaration in 2019. In addressing the move to a low carbon future for Colchester, the local planning authority should seize the opportunity to actively plan for new development in locations and in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, continually seeking improvements to the City’s stock of employment land to provide resilience to the impacts of a changing climate. This means ensuring that there continues to be an improving supply of new fit for purpose employment space, in accessible locations that are attractive to the market and which benefit from 21st Century technology and energy efficiency standards.
1. Colchester will be “open for business” by supporting a strong and expanding economy that continues to be an area for significant growth, with good availability of employment land to suit a wide range of commercial needs, in strategically advantageous locations – reflective of its City status. 2. Healthy, vibrant and mixed places across the city and its hinterlands, by enabling the continued growth of its settlements with a range of land uses, ensuring that local facilities, services and employment are retained and enhanced. 3. Colchester will be delivering in its response to the Climate Emergency, by transitioning to a low carbon future by planning for new development in locations and ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The last few bits that haven't yet been scarred, overwhelmed or destroyed by development.
Stopping the above. Enough is enough.
As 2
Proximity to London Affordable housing History and Garrison
To cut down developers building too many houses when there is not the infrastructure Build better roads, GP's, Hospitals, schools and reduce the population
All above
1) It is a centre of excellence as a cultural and artistic centre and as a heritage centre, and as such it is potentially a huge attractant for tourism which could be worth a great deal of money. As Lord Bragg, in the House of Lords put it in the idebate, 1 February 2024, , 'they are not the cherry on the cake, they are the cake".'' In 2023 there were over three million jobs in creative arts and industries. But there could be more... They create one and a half times more revenue than the wider economy. The City's creation of creative hubs is important, but there needs to be so much more and so much more visible and publicised Nationwide. 2) I like its scale. It may be the largest settlement in the region, but it still keeps its queit charm, while offering all the attractions of a city.. 3) It is so easy to reach local beauty spots, Lavenham, Dedham, West Mersea, Tollesbury
The opportunity to identify a site for a concert hall for incoming tours ( which would prefer to come to Colchester audiences that Ipswich of Chelmsfor) , and as a home for ourr three orchestras and five choirs, and to accespt touring musicals: and to raise the money through grants and trusts and high net worth individuals. The opporunity to create a "pictures in frames' gallery for Colchester large permanent collection and the Batte Lay Trust. Every other city of size and note has one of these which should be in the city centre. The MInories is a changing exhibition. I am envisging a permanent display of our major works, curremntly hidden away. The opportunity to create a huge degree of control over planning in the heritage centre to prevent anything which will minimise its tourist potential from being built by setting a new design guide and importantly taking the opportunities that a connservation area can bring: everything from colours of paintwork, signage, natural materials and so on. THhs will involve the complete revision of TC1-4. The opportunity to crteate a free to travellers with return tickets bus link between the starion and the City. And a deignated tourist stop. The opportunity to maximise tourism and the huge income it will provide. Although some officers disagree with this, it is Colchester's ONLY viable future. We cannot expect manufacturing or distribution of to have an airport built. The relocation of the VIC to the High Street and its expansion to include a mini gallery, museum display space and tourist meeting place. There has been a considerable improvement in out local social media, having thrown off the shackles of fear of being assertive, but this needs to work nationally as well by employing someone to work full time on our image nationally by writing letters to the paper, specultive columns to every magazine in Britain and so on... and to use Tiktok, Instagram, Pintrest and so on.
Its arts, music, theatre, galleries Its heritage its welcome, and greeting
The remaining green spaces (not that there are many left - please prioritise keeping these over building over them!) The community feel of the villages outside the centre (inside the centre and in the bigger towns surrounding it there is now no community feel as is too overbuilt) Colchester castle park
Maintaining its green spaces for the health and sustainability of the people, to protect the natural environment and biodiversity, lower emissions, and to reduce the continued overcrowding, traffic jams, and continued pressure on the city’s utilities and providers (the roads are a mess).
Being a green city with plenty of protected and accessible green space and strong biodiversity of flora and fauna. Not building houses over every green space available! Actively reducing its emissions and implementing green policies. Implementing the plant-based food treaty via the city council to reduce our footprint and impact on the environment.
Colchester City (Local Authority Area) is an Authority that is exceptionally well placed to deliver much needed new homes. Colchester has great physical connections and transport links (including by rail, in under an hour) to London and its environs making it an incredibly sustainable location. As well as being a focus for economic growth, Colchester is home to many thriving communities which are supported by good quality services, facilities and infrastructure. This makes Colchester a desirable place to live and work and new homes will be required to meet existing and future local needs.
1. Meeting Housing Needs in full The most important opportunity for Colchester to 2041 will be in providing homes for all, in accordance with identified need. This is in line with supporting the government’s objective to significantly boost the supply of homes, and to address the housing needs of all groups. In line with paragraph 60 of the NPPF (2023), “…the overall aim should be to meet as much of an area’s identified housing need as possible, including with an appropriate mix of housing types for the local community”. The Council is starting to fall short of its adopted housing target. The adopted Local Plan allocates an annualised housing supply of 920 dwellings per annum (18,400 during plan period). The current trajectory of 8,505 properties from 2023/24 to 2033/34 and current completions of 8,793 indicate a current shortfall of 111 new homes (per annum) against the local plan targets. It will be important for the new Local Plan to address any emerging shortfall in the new homes being delivered in the current Local Plan period. Allocating additional sites where new homes can be delivered will be important for the Council to avoid experience another shortfall early on in the new Local Plan period. The Council’s latest published objectively assessed housing need update (November 2016) shows that Colchester has the highest housing need (920 dpa) of the Braintree / Colchester / Chelmsford / Tendring HMA (totalling 2,991 dpa) – with an affordable housing need of 267 dpa for Colchester (again the highest percentage of the 814 dpa in total across the HMA). Clearly, the Council will need to identify a significant supply of land going forward to address ongoing housing need across the City, and it is understood that it is collating its assessment of submissions made to a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise from October 2023 to January 2024. 2. Maintaining Housing Supply and Delivery The Council currently has a marginal housing land supply of 5.17 years which could soon result in speculative planning application being submitted on sites that were not allocated in the adopted Local Plan. The new Local Plan creates an opportunity to allocate sufficient sites in order to maintain a 5-year supply of housing land throughout the new Local Plan period. Over the past 5 years, Colchester has scored highly in the Housing Delivery Test but the most recent score is significantly below the peak in 2021. The is a risk that the Council will not be able to meet its Housing Delivery Test requirements over the upcoming year given the emerging shortfall of 111 new homes per annum as set out above. Delivering the new homes required is an important opportunity for Colchester. This can be achieved by allocating sites in sustainable locations that are free from insurmountable constraints and are capable of being delivered. 3. Allocating Deliverable Sites The Local Plan provides an important opportunity for local residents to have a say on where new homes are to be located. Allocating new sites that can deliver much needed new homes early in the Local Plan period will be incredibly important to achieving this. A key risk is the failure to allocate sufficient sites to meet the Authority’s housing need, which will result in a housing land supply shortfall and an influx of speculative planning applications. Gleeson Land is promoting a site known as ‘Land north of Bromley Road, Colchester’ (Site ID ref: 10616 of the Council’s latest Call for Sites 2023 – as shown on the red-line plan below). This site extends to 11ha and can provide circa 250 new homes, alongside both community and green infrastructure (including well-designed public open space). This site (Site ID ref: 10616), is located adjacent to the existing settlement boundary and would represent an extremely logical extension to the existing settlement. The edge of settlement location results in a highly sustainable location within Colchester. New residents of this development would be within a 10-minute walk to local shops, schools and playgrounds. This site (Site ID Ref 10616) could be delivered early in the Local Plan period because there are no insurmountable constraints to development. The site benefits from being located within Flood Zone 1 (which has the lowest probability of flooding from rivers and the sea) and there are no designated heritage assets or environmental assets either on the site or within its setting. As well as the provision of circa 250 much needed new homes for local people, the allocation of this site has the potential to deliver additional benefits, including: • New and accessible green infrastructure; • New Play spaces LEAPs / LAPs; • Biodiversity net gain; • A range of new homes, including those which are affordable; • Local road improvements; • Investment in the local economy; • Job creation and skills training; • Improve bus, pedestrian and cycle links, and • Investment in existing local facilities. It would also be prudent to consider this site in the context of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community – which it borders (immediate to the east) – the commitment to which is noted by virtue of the DPD at Examination this May 2024. New residents of Site ID Ref 10616 would be able to benefit from the new facilities within the Garden Community.
Colchester should be known (in 2041) for: 1. The delivery of outstanding new homes that local people can be proud of that meet the housing need in full and are located on sites allocated in the Local Plan. This should include the allocation Site ID Ref 10616 which can deliver circa 250 new homes on an exceptionally sustain-able site early in the Local Plan period along with: • New and accessible green infrastructure; • New Play spaces LEAPs / LAPs; • Biodiversity net gain; • A range of new homes, including those which are affordable; • Local road improvements; • Investment in the local economy; • Job creation and skills training; • Improve bus, pedestrian and cycle links, and • Investment in existing local facilities. 2. Colchester should be comprised of strong, vibrant and healthy communities (in line with the sustainable objectives of the NPPF 2023). 3. In particular, affordable provision should be made to address the identified need across the Colchester City Council administrative boundaries.
Natural England does not have any specific comments to make in response to this question.
Natural England wishes to re-iterate the importance of the Middlewick Ranges site (Policy SC2 of the currently adopted Local Plan) as an existing biodiversity asset within Colchester. The area holds substantial interest for nature, including large areas of priority habitat (particularly acid grassland) and nationally important assemblages of invertebrates. The site’s inherent ecological value also increases its function in supporting wider nature recovery ambition across the landscape. Our advice to date has been that we expect:• the firm policies in the current local plan to be fully enacted should any proposal for development come forward here; • planning decisions would be made on the basis of robust, transparent, up to date evidence as to biodiversity interest of the site; • the mitigation hierarchy and national planning policy framework be followed in full to avoid impacts, mitigate for them, and then compensate if there are residual impacts; and, • there to be a clear and realistic plan for not only delivery of mandatory biodiversity net gain (including adherence to the biodiversity gain hierarchy), but also the retention and long-term management of the most ecologically important areas of the site. If these circumstances cannot be met, we would advise your authority that development on the site should not take place. We would not support a weakening of the existing agreed local plan policy with regard to this site.Natural England’s clear preference is to retain the high value wildlife areas and valued local greenspace at Middlewick Ranges. This site, in conjunction with adjacent areas of farmland could also provide a significant opportunity to develop a nature recovery network into the wider countryside
Natural England would like to see a strong focus on climate change and nature recovery within Colchester, incorporated within the overall vision and specific strategic priorities for the new Local Plan. There should also be a clear link between these issues and the importance of the marine environment both for increasing nature recovery and adapting to the impacts of climate change. This should consider alignment with the Essex LNP targets and include direct references to nature recovery networks, the emerging Greater Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the Lawton Principles: ‘Making space for nature’: a review of England's wildlife sites. The Environment Act introduced an increased “biodiversity duty” for Local Authorities to “conserve and enhance” biodiversity. Eventual policy wording should therefore focus on “enhancement” as well as protection of existing natural resources within Colchester and seek to identify opportunity areas to increase connectivity. The Plan should also recognise the important role that green/blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions play in aiding climate change adaptation and mitigation. 2) Colchester’s approach to Biodiversity net gain (BNG) should be compliant with the mitigation hierarchy, as set out in paragraph 186 of the NPPF, as well as the Biodiversity Gain hierarchy, as outlined in the Planning Practice Guidance. Any approach to BNG in Colchester must also take into consideration habitats within the intertidal zone. The Biodiversity metric uses a strategic significance multiplier that identifies priority areas for nature recovery and incentivises a greater uplift of biodiversity units in those locations. The Greater Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is anticipated to help guide BNG habitats to the best strategic locations and there should be a clear link between BNG and LNRS in local plan policy. However, in the interim the Local Authority should use existing strategies and baseline information to inform these areas of “strategic significance” and it is recommended that this is given further consideration as the new Local Plan progresses. The Habitat Networks (England) layer has been developed by Natural England to inform the LNRSs that are currently being developed to support the delivery of BNG and the recovery of biodiversity in line with commitments in the Environment Act. Land for inclusion within the LNRS is currently being identified by the Essex Local Nature Partnership to reconnect fragmented habitats. Future iterations of the new Local Plan should take account of the Greater Essex LNRS and seek to avoid including development allocations that would further fragment existing habitats of biodiversity value, such as Ancient Woodland or species rich grassland. 3) Natural England encourages Colchester City Council to set clear, measurable targets for improving the quantity and quality of green and blue infrastructure provision. This should take into account Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework - Principles and Standards for England and be applied at different scales including area-wide and for individual major developments. The “15 minute neighbourhood” concept that is being encouraged as part of the new Green Infrastructure standards seeks to ensure that everyone has access to good quality natural greenspace within 15 minute’s walking distance from their homes, in line with the Accessible Greenspace Standards and Green Flag Criteria. This has also been referenced within the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan. Natural England encourages the Council to consider a commitment aligned with this target.
Wildlife-rich sites such as Local Wildlife Sites (LoWS) and areas within the authority that form part of the Essex Coast Important Invertebrate Area (IIA)1 . LoWS sites, together with statutory sites are vital for supporting local wildlife. IIAs are nationally or internationally significant places for the conservation of invertebrates and the habitats upon which they rely. It is special to have such important wildlife habitat close to the city. • The valuable open spaces that provide important green space for people to have access to nature and to exercise for the benefit of their health and wellbeing. • Middlewick Ranges is a key wildlife sites in the authority area, falling within the IIA as well as being one of the region’s largest LoWS. It is also very important outdoor space for local people to enjoy. The site is irreplaceable and should be safeguarded from development threats.
It is vital that Colchester seeks to protect and enhance its natural environment for the benefit of residents and visitors with ambitious commitments to nature’s recovery. Opportunities must be taken to retain and enhance wildlife-rich sites that act as biodiversity reservoirs. Current and new green infrastructure should be used effectively to ensure these areas are functionally connected to create a resilient network. The LoWS network should be recognised for the immense value it provides to the area and sites, such as Middlewick Ranges, should not be lost to inappropriate development.
Protecting, retaining and enhancingthe important habitats and species at Middlewick Ranges from development. • A place where the value of a healthy environment is central to policy and decision making, benefitting nature and people. • A place where effective action is being taken to restore biodiversity and create a resilient environment for now and the future. Buglife urges Colchester City Council to take this opportunity to include Middlewick Ranges as an important green space within the Local Plan Review and protect it from development.
1. Its access to job opportunities for all, ensuring workforce retention in local housing. Colchester City has significant employment activity and hubs and in recent years the area as a whole has seen unemployment levels lower than national averages. The retention of employment generates local revenue that helps sustain the delivery of essential public services to the community. 2. Its rich and distinctive heritage and proximity to the Dedham Vale, providing more people with more opportunities to enjoy the City’s high-quality historic environment and countryside of national importance. The historic city centre has an important role as a cultural and economic focus of the region and a major visitor destination. The current Local Plan identifies the surrounding urban area of Colchester as the focus for new housing and employment development, given its good transport accessibility, links to green spaces. Importantly, this approach ensures the protection of Colchester’s nationally designated landscape. 3. Its connectedness to London and the wider East of England, in addition to the coast and countryside, via a wide range of transport options. The broad location of the City is therefore highly accessible and sustainable and provides a strong basis to grow Colchester as an important regional centre and focus on growth at other sustainable locations in the Local Authority Area that are served well by existing transport links.
- Access to housing fit for the 21st century, by continuing to deliver sufficient new homes, by ensuring the planned availability of developable land in appropriate locations and that the market delivers a suitable mix of housing types and tenures. Given the continuing pressures on the East of England and the County of Essex, the City of Colchester should ensure that it continues to maintain its good rate of delivery over the next plan period to meet its local housing need through planned growth. This means ensuring the allocation of sites that are capable of delivering high quality development quickly, such as land in the vicinity of Marks Tey station. - Providing for a sustainable pattern of development, enabling the creation of healthy and vibrant communities. It is important for the Council to make the most of Colchester’s strategically advantageous position with good access to London, the Port of Harwich, Stansted Airport, Ipswich and the major employers in the City itself; including the University of Essex, Knowledge Gateway and Army Garrison. Sustainable development of the future should ensure that housing and population growth matches planned employment growth, by capitalising on opportunities to create sustainable land use patterns that maximise accessibility between jobs, homes, services and facilities, for instance by allocating land around Marks Tey for residential development. Marks Tey benefits from its excellent strategic position adjacent to the A12 and mainline railway station; development in this location would help improve accessibility for people to move around the City and beyond, also enabling them to make more sustainable travel choices to commute to major employment areas. - Provision of access to attractive high quality green and blue infrastructure, linking new developments to and within existing networks of open space, increasing public access to the countryside. It is important that the Council continues to build on its existing network of green and blue infrastructure, improving connectivity between existing and planned infrastructure and the rural countryside, for instance along river corridors such as Roman River. It is important for the Council to identify gaps and deficiencies in the existing network, the improvement of which would benefit communities, wildlife and the environment. This would extend the landscape, ecological, recreational and health & wellbeing benefits of this infrastructure to existing and future residents across the City and its hinterland. - Maximising active travel opportunities, by promoting integrated, safe and attractive walking and cycling routes across the City. This could be done by identifying opportunities to direct new development to locations that reduce walking/cycling distances to key transport links and new shops/services. The extent to which development sites utilise the opportunity to improve the connectivity of a place should be a key objective, and potential sites for development that would provide the opportunity to further enhance the accessibility to existing shops and services for the community should be positively considered. Land within the vicinity of Marks Tey station offers the combination of walking to the station with the opportunity to masterplan enhancements to Roman River as part of development in this location, tapping into the potential for ecological, landscape, recreational and health & wellbeing benefits of the River which is not currently accessible to the public. - There are opportunities to direct development away from more sensitive landscape areas and that would ease the pressure to accommodate additional growth on land that would reduce the physical gap between settlements. There is an opportunity to promote the development of land at Marks Tey, and in proximity to the railway station, without impacting significantly on the landscape character of the area and on locally valued views.
- Colchester will be “open for business” by supporting a strong and expanding economy that continues to be an area for significant growth, with good availability of housing to suit a wide range of needs, matching job growth with housing growth, in a broad range of locations – reflective of its City status. Development will be directed to the most appropriate and sustainable locations, supporting key transport hubs and interchanges. - Healthy and vibrant communities across the City and its hinterlands, by enabling the continued growth of its settlements ensuring that local facilities and services are retained and enhanced. This will be enabled through high quality and inclusive design, delivering solutions to existing issues by, for instance, addressing the fragmented and poorly linked nature of existing communities around Marks Tey which are separated by the A12, A120 and railway line, through the careful masterplanning of development sites that occupy key locations. - Colchester will be delivering in its response to the Climate Emergency, by transitioning to a low carbon future through environmental stewardship, reducing the City’s energy consumption, managing enhancing and creating habitats as part of a planned green infrastructure strategy. Opportunities to make biodiversity net gains through development including or near to designated sites will be seized whilst the City’s most important landscapes will be safeguarded, ensuring that the pressure to accommodate growth in the most sensitive locations is reduced.
Castle Park
To listen to the residents.
A mixture to suit everyone. Good health care, good and well maintained roads and plenty of green open spaces for exercise, well being and to allow nature to flourish and not destroy it. Bascially what was promised in the Declaration of 2019
Lots of green space, variety of restaurants in the city centre
To preserve current green spaces to save space for future generations and wildlife.
Provision of green space for future families to enjoy and help the environment
My favourite place in the world ia the wick. I grew up next the fielda and now live here too wouldn't want to live anywhere else. If the wick gets developed on, i will be loojing for another place to live. I just love green spaces.
Most important thing is actually protecting wildlife and environment and i dont understand how that can be achived by building on it. Were not going to have a world left at this rate.
Green spaces and actually fighting to protect species and the enviroment.
Sorry but the council have ruined colchester
To make sure there are no more houses build the thr roads cannot take the traffic and we need more spaces where we can walk for our mental health and well being and so wildlife have places where they can thrive ²
Not destroying the green spaces and to stop building more houses
History, open spaces nature river
To put nature, history first make the most of our natural history and resources
As above
Hopefully the use of the full area known as Middlewick Ranges as the council removes this vital area from the Local Plan to allow even one house would destroy the area. It’s potential although it’s sadly not incorporated into any sensible plans.
Maintain its green areas to enable us to coexist with important species other than Homo sapiens. Return the city centre to a thriving area of commerce that people want to visit
It’s values it’s wildlife areas and benefits it brings to the thousands of species that exist and thrive there and the benefits to Colchester’s people of these green spaces for our health and wellbeing
It's easily accessible green spaces especially Middlewick. The history of the town. The independent traders in the city centre.
We need to protect our green spaces for future generations. Stop building sprawling estates on every spare field just for commuters to move into the town. Middlewick Ranges is a prime example of las that should be left for futuregenerations to enjoy. It has a unique biodiversity that people love to go and enjoy.
It's protected green spaces, preservation of historical site and support for independent traders.
Historical sites (such as castle, mosaics, circus, walls) Beautiful nature spaces (such as the unique biome and stunning middlewick ranges, bursting with life not found elsewhere in the region) Balance (of venues, entertainment, nature and residency provisions)
Maintain a balance, fresh environment and elements that are crucial for residents mental and physical health. You shouldn't need a car to escape into nature. Save the special MIDDLEWICK RANGES as a COUNTRY PARK, for the unmitigable flora and fauna that has lived on this historic site for years and the residents that rely upon it for clean air, a break from industry bustle and a space to get back to nature - that cannot be achieved by tiny human-engulfed spaces like Bourne or rec.
The mindful balance of nature and human nurture. Not just another town-become-concrete city. A small, historic city gem that encompasses and balances natural life with human needs.
Near the Sea. Good rail service to London. Near the some beautiful countryside.
Looking after the open spaces these will one day attract tourists as there won’t be many left within the next 50 years onwards.
Open spaces. Looking after wildlife. Protecting the environment.
Ethnic diversity Biodiversity Open green spaces
To look after the natural world To take the opportunity to preserve open greenspaces for health and mental well-being as well as protecting species for the futures generations. Look at fulfilling it's obligations under the councils claim of climate emergency. The opportunity to be an outstanding forward thinking conscientious and environmental aware council and city
Nurturing its ethnic diversity, encouraging inclusion for all It's protection of bio-diversity and green spaces. It's green credentials for taking care of people and wildlife.
roman ruins Middlewick Ranges Castle park
keeping green space open to locals Allowing nature to have space to grow
open space for all locals its wildlife areas less traffic
Castle park Friday woods Green spaces
Ensuring nature is a part of Colchester vision going forward Reduction of traffic Ensuring local communities have access to nature and green spaces
A place of connection and living with nature Having access to green spaces Places for local to decompress from the busyness of everyday life Good work life balance Promoting well being over corporate gain
History Green spaces Surrounding countryside and coastal waterways promoting outdoor leisure.
Conservation
History Conservation Culture
1. There are still some beautiful rural and wildlife friendly areas, such as Middlewick, Grymes Dyke and Hilly Fields. It is still possible to get out into the countryside reasonably quickly by foot or bicycle. 2. Our Roman heritage. 3. Generally our access to facilities, leisure, parks and gardens etc.
1. encourage enterprise and small businesses to use empty retail units in the town centre, perhaps offering favourable business rates discount schemes for 18 months - stop wasting time on headline grabbing but vacuous schemes such as 'city status'. 2. To retain and maintain access to wild areas, common land and footpaths.
1. thriving business and enterprise - start-up, small shops. 2. a serious commitment to wildlife and conservation of habitat and countryside access. 3. proactive policing of the town centre, rather than reactive and ineffective 'response' policing.
I am on here mainly to protect the Middlewick ranges Do not build on them!
Keeping green areas and not building too much. But..the town needs a revamp ..too many closed shops
Friendly Good town Green areas
Middlewick as a open space.
To maintain the most Bio diverse pocket of land (Middlewick) as a nature reserve.
Definitely not the shit hole it has become with the continuous construction and the London overspill.
Open spaces (middlewick ranges, friday woods), Castle Park, roman history (albeit badly preserved historically by Colchester CC.
Ensuring that we do not sacrifice the open spaces we have in pursuit of neverending housebuilding. Development of better infrastructure to ensure better traffic flows. Preservation of the historic resources of the city. Redevelopment of the city centre.
History, green open spaces, scalable infrastructure
Community spirit and green spaces
The environment
Preserving and improving green spaces and everyone’s access to them