IN response to Norman Bailey’s letter, readers would be in no doubt of his view, of which he is perfectly entitled, that Colchester’s High Street should be pedestrianised.

Barely a month goes by where he expresses his views on the same subject.

As someone that has had input into the business association I know for a fact it is untrue they alone were the reason the council decided against the scheme.

The Colchester Retail Business Association reported back to me as a member on all the meetings they had with the council and the monitoring group. The parties tried to find alternatives and solutions.

Nobody to date has come up with a credible alternative that would close the High Street and not affect the vast amount of businesses and their livelihoods in the town centre.

One remarkably serious suggestion was why can’t the couriers deliver in the middle of the night.

They also suggested some of the business managers/owners should also forgo their sleep to take these deliveries.

The town was on its knees during this trial, people chose to avoid it altogether, and the congestion it caused elsewhere was crippling, so to consider this again would be criminal in my view.

With the new villages proposed, there soon will be no way to get from one side of town to the other.

Former council leader Anne Turrell’s idea of a tramway in the sky is becoming more attractive by the day.

We could always build a flyover from Shrub End to Greenstead, stopping at the hospital of course!

Mr Bailey repeatedly talks about Chelmsford and Ipswich, both of whom have alternative routes for delivery, rubbish collection, cash carriers etc and they don’t have their High Street on top of a hill.

Incidentally I feel people get hung up with the actual name High Street, if it was called anything else then perhaps there wouldn’t be such emphasis on just one road.

Colchester has a similar amount of pedestrianised shopping as Ipswich and Chelmsford, it is just their town layouts are different.

While the council should indeed not take the views of one organisation, similarly it should not solely take the views of one resident who lives in close proximity to the town.

A Wyatt Crouch Street, Colchester

  • On the ropes... but I’m stil fighting

In response to Mr Chilvers’ letter, I can inform him I, as portfolio holder for highways on Colchester Council, wrote to Cllr Johnson, portfolio holder for highways at Essex County Council, asking for action to be taken over congestion problems at North Station.

I asked if we could arrange talks between the two authorities then that would be the way forward to see what action can be done.

As you rightly say we have no powers to change road structures, we can only comment on actions they have agreed on and then carry on with it anyway. For example, Colchester Council was told about work being done by highways to put in the barrier at High Street/East Hill lights to stop right turns the day before work was due to start.

I would not have agreed with this nor would officers, it was done directly by the two Conservative Castle Ward councillors.

Ward councillors are right to ask for action to be taken as it is their ward, I have no problem with that, it shows they are working to try and improve the places where they were elected.

I have had a reply to my request and will be writing back to try and sort a date out where we can meet and work out what’s best for Colchester.

Rest assured Nick, I’m in there fighting...on the ropes maybe, but still going.

Mike Lilley Councillor responsible for Safer communities and licensing Colchester Council

  • We want to help youngsters bloom

Colchester in Bloom’s remit is much broader than enhancing the town centre’s appearance.

It also includes, for example, encouraging and supporting community projects.

Among the groups we particularly want to help are the 12 to 18 age bracket.

This could be a school gardening club, youth club, guide company, scout troop or any group of people in this age category who are enriching the area in which they live.

We would love to hear from youngsters undertaking growing activities.

Jean Quinn King Stephen Road, Colchester  jeanquinn42@yahoo.co.uk 

  • Do not let these criminals break our community

The Holy Quran (chapter 22, verse 40) says: “And if Allah did not repel some people by others, cloisters, and churches, and synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered, would have been pulled down.”

I apply this to the heinous crime that was committed in the British Parliament.

Had it not been for the brave men and women of the police force who daily put their lives in danger to protect us and our way of life, the carnage may have been much worse.

PC Keith Palmer, a husband and a father who laid down his life for us, was a hero and his murderer a coward.

We extend our most sincere condolences to PC Palmer’s family.

The founder of our organisation, Muslims for Peace, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, wrote in his book: “Many other types of violations of human rights will be carried out simply in the name of religion.” (page 25) We, the Muslims of Britain, condemn all the cowardly and criminal acts wherever they are committed and whoever commits them.

We will not be cowed into submission by these criminals. We shall fight them to uphold values of Islam prevalent in the UK such as freedom of expression, rule of law, protection of the disadvantaged and our democratic institution.

Let these criminals not cause dissension in our community and stand united to show these criminals that their evil plans will not succeed.

Mohammad Arjumand Sadiq

Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam

Mohammad Sadiq Southcliff Park, Clacton

  • I remain committed to Clacton

I WANTED to write directly to Gazette readers to let you know that I will be leaving Ukip and sitting in Parliament as an independent MP. I will continue to represent you and our area.

Like many local people, I switched to Ukip because I wanted Britain to leave the European Union. Last June in the referendum a majority voted to leave – including a large majority of people in our part of Essex. The formal process of leaving was formally triggered by Mrs May this coming week. Job done.

With the task of getting us out of the EU accomplished, I am 100 per cent focused on putting the same effort and energy into trying to sort out some of the problems affecting Clacton hospital, the minor injuries unit and the local NHS.

Last week, I triggered a Parliamentary debate about the shortage of local GPs, forcing the minister to listen to local concerns. I will not be switching parties, or crossing the floor to the Conservatives, so do not need to call a by election, like I did when switching from the Conservatives to Ukip.

I will simply sit in the Commons as your representative, answering directly to you, my boss.

I remain absolutely committed to our area.

My local advice surgeries continue as normal, and my office is open to serve you.

Douglas Carswell MP Clacton