Essex Police sticks to its interpretation of guidance while other forces forge ahead |
Campaign asks MPs to intervene in dispute over Extra Eyes service |
Dear <<First Name>>
Stuart Johnson, the campaign chair, has written to MPs Pam Cox, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Dame Priti Patel to raise our concerns about the Essex Police Extra Eyes service and the Safer Essex Roads Partnership.
Extra Eyes allows road users to report careless and dangerous road users by uploading video evidence.
In 2024 nearly 1,400 reports were made by cyclists, with most being for close passes – failing to follow the advice in the Highway Code to leave at least 1.5m space at speeds of up to 30mph and a greater distance when travelling faster.
The cycling campaign has engaged constructively with Extra Eyes for years. This has included being part of focus groups when the service was established and meeting the team at its base in South Woodham Ferrers.
During the 12 months to mid-2024 we were pleased with Extra Eyes' performance: two thirds of reports by cyclists resulted in a notice of prosecution being sent to the driver. In nearly all these cases the motorist was offered a driver education course as an alternative. We felt this was a positive outcome.
Since mid 2024 however the service has deteriorated and now less than 40 per cent of reports by cyclists result in robust action. Up to half the reports lead to no action at all.
Essex Police argues that this is due to updated guidance from the National Police Chiefs Council. Our argument is that this ... |
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... guidance has not stopped other forces operating an effective video reporting service. In Q2 2025, for example, West Yorkshire Police took robust action (conditional offer or education course) in 66.3 per cent of cases of reports by cyclists. The types of reports on which Essex is taking no further action include what we consider to be clear examples of careless and dangerous driving.
Here are four recent cases. Overtake into path of oncoming cyclists forcing them to swerve to avoid a collision Drive the wrong way in Culver Street East in Colchester – no further action Close pass on cyclist on Argents Lane close to where a cyclist was killed in a road collision in 2024 – warning letter Close pass on two cyclists close to Fordham near Colchester (caution video contain an expletive) – no further action We believe that the Extra Eyes service is a vital tool in addressing careless and dangerous driving in Essex and helping to achieve the Vision Zero strategy of ... |
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... halving deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Essex by 2030 and eliminating them by 2040.
The Safer Essex Roads Partnership and Essex Police are co-authors of this strategy which depressingly has shown no progress in reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Essex since 2022.
After consulting cyclists who have reported incidents to Essex, the cycling campaign has with reluctance had to declare that it has no confidence in the Extra Eyes service or Essex Police’s ability to maintain the safety of cyclists in Essex.
We have asked the MPs to raise our concerns about the Extra Eyes service and the lack of progress on achieving Vision Zero targets with BJ Harrington, the chief constable, and Roger Hirst, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex.
We have also asked the MPs to raise the issue about how close passes are handled generally with the Department of Transport and the Home Office, with a focus on Essex’s interpretation of the new rules.
Group's big push for 20mph, below |
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One issue is unused bikes blocking up bike parking spaces at the hospital. The flat tyres and rusty chains are the clue PICTURE: COLCHESTER CYCLING CAMPAIGN |
Campaign meets hospital's new travel plan coordinator |
The campaign met the NHS travel plan coordinator of the Essex and Suffolk foundation trust at Colchester Hospital last month.
Brydie Murphy is new (she has taken the place of Marc Yearling) so we began by setting out the importance of Gear Change and LTN 1/20 in providing for cyclists and walkers to help improve health and lessen the demand on the NHS.
Among other items discussed were: formalising cycling and walking routes through the site to ensure they feature in planning and policy documents. Details herepromoting the route into the hospital via the new Northern Approaches cycleway – the first continuous cycle route into the hospital since most cyclists were scared off the roads an offer to help with any cycle planning for Esneft's Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich sites the need for cycle parking at front door of Colchester General Hospital (patients and visitors). We also highlighted the issues with the existing ...
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This new sign at the entrance to the Primary Care Trust directs everyone via the arcing Turner Village service road but drivers trying it will come across either a "no entry" sign or a "no vehicles except cycles" sign PICTURE: CCC |
... “bike kennels” which won't take many types of bike and require cyclists to bring their own padlocks (D-locks won't fit the hasps) the history of the Colchester site's car parking. We said it was important not to increase provision further (in our view Esneft has one of the fairest car parking arrangements in England). We also highlighted how most people arriving by car were 9-5 or 10-6 workers, not necessarily frontline medical staff a review of signage. Some of the latest signs are very confusing as to whether they mean motorists, cyclists or pedestrians, or all three. new signage from the site to routes including Mile End Road, NAR and High Woods the need for "bike hawks" on some cycle racks to free space by removing bikes that are currently rusting in peace
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We hope to see Brydie again soon, in particular to promote the NAR for people on bikes going to the hospital. |
This is your chance to help fund the campaign. Thanks to Kim and Simon for last month's donations. |
Thanks, Chris – you're a Travel Strategy star |
Chris Stevenson, a campaign committee member, has kindly taken on collating the campaign's response to Essex's new travel strategy. If you would like to add input, please email admin@colchester-cycling.org.uk. We will flag the final version on the CCC email group when it is ready to be submitted. You can of course make your own response, even if it is to ask for "more high-quality, joined-up cycleways". Send your ideas to engagementhub@essexhighways.orgSee https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/2025/have-your-say-new-essex-transport-strategy for full details. |
Read the latest on the big push for area-wide 20mph in Essex |
Will Bramhill writes: A group of people and organisations, including the cycling campaign, Colchester Civic Society and 20's Plenty for Essex, have been trying to persuade Essex County Council that it needs to adopt area-wide 20mph limits so that it stays within the law as set down by the Road Traffic Act and the Traffic Management Act.
At the moment it seems the council's policy is to stick its fingers in its ears and shout "la, la, la" which would be funny if people weren't being killed and injured.
The whole sorry saga is recorded here with the most recent correspondence at the bottom. The 20's group is considering its next move. Meanwhile Essex clings to its rhetoric about Vision Zero, which has made no marked difference in the county in the years since 2019 yet refuses to take action which would drive down casualties. A hollow promise by politicians ... what a surprise. |
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Colchester Cycling Campaign uses Email Octopus to create this newsletter. If you would like to do the same for your organisation please use this link https://emailoctopus.com/?urli=XN4MS. The campaign and the new group each get a "new joiner" benefit of 15 USD (about £12). |
Council's new maps help to beat the school run car jams |
Jade Brown, a transport and sustainability project officer with Colchester City Council, writes: We have been working with schools to produce active travel maps to help pupils and parents choose the best way to travel to school.
Each map shows the best active travel routes for getting to school as well as information about different ways of travelling and specific guidance for each school. So far, seven schools have active travel maps. You can find them on the Cycle Colchester website. If your school is not on there and you would be interested in having one, please email transportandsustainability@colchester.gov.uk |
Northern Approach Road cycleway and bus lane latest |
Paul Avison, the former campaign chairman who moved to Northumbria five years ago, came back to Colchester to see friends last month and took the chance to check on what is happening with the Northern Approach cycleway which he helped to design.
Paul was disappointed with some of the finish and we've alerted the Essex engineer in charge of the project. |
Paul also took issue with this odd path leading down to Bruff Close. According to Essex safety auditors it is "too steep to cycle safely" which is why they have put a no cycling sign at the bottom and a "shared use" sign at the top. What nonsense! Apparently the path was originally going to take a different route which possibly would have been too steep, but the final layout means the hill is merely a pimple. The trouble is that if a cyclist uses this and there is a problem, there could be liability/insurance issues. |
Finally Paul spotted this sign for Bradford Drive. We believe it is an "in joke" by the contractors 🤣 |
East Hill and St Botolph's |
As we go to press we hear that the East Hill scheme has been called in by a councillor, which may lead to further delays. We hope to bring you more news on that and the St Botolph's roundabout scheme in our next issue.
Meanwhile Colchester City Council has released its plans for the St Botolph's to Firstsite regeneration. At first sight we are disappointed: there is little for cyclists that would offset the impossibility of travelling north on Queen Street and there does not appear to be a link with Nicholsons Grove/Rosebery Avenue.
Nat Catchpole is leading on our response. You can contact him at admin@colchester-cycling.org.uk
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Horkesley homes and cycling |
If you or your family members cycle in Great Horkesley, you may be interested in the campaign's response to a plan for 100 homes ( 251595) which is being put together by Will Bramhill, campaign secretary. Contact will@colchester-cycling.org.uk for further information. See the drawings for the proposed cycleway here (you'll need a Google account). |
A sign of the times, or not |
The cycling campaign objected to planning application for a digital rotating advertising sign near the Magdalen Street/Military Road junction on the grounds that it will be a distraction for drivers. The council refused the plan ( 250617) but the applicant has taken it to appeal. We had asked Essex County Council to add its objection citing Vision Zero but it did not regard the sign will be a problem. We will let you know the outcome. |
Pick up a free copy of this super map |
Colchester's brand new cycle map is now available at the town hall, Leisure World, the visitor information centre and lots of other places across the city.
You can view a digital PDF copy on the Cycle Colchester website |
Next Bike Meet: September 16 |
After three months where we've suggested meeting to ride on the new Northern Approach cycleway then having our hopes dashed, we're not going to tempt fate this time. We're going to opt for an online meeting ... unless we hear the NAR route is open. Keep your eyes on the CCC email channel for details. |
National news you might have missed |
UK Judge Affirms Legality Of Public-Submitted Road Crime Footage In Landmark Ruling:
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A couple of workers' bikes lean against a wall in what was then the town centre, now the city centre ... but where?
Think back streets, look at the shadow and the slight curve in the road.
It's definitely Culver Street but your editor is tossing up whether this is taken looking east, roughly from where WH Smith's (AT Jones) is now, towards Primark, or whether it is from the back of Sainsbury's looking west towards the Three Wise Monkeys brewing company (ex Jack's).
Alternatively this could be the junction with Head Street. Oh to be a time traveller! |
Social media post of the month |
Good to see that Vancouver is taking Vision Zero seriously. Thanks to @tomflood.bsky.social on BlueSky for this nugget. |
Try a ride in good company |
days since the bridge at Middle Mill shut |
days since Boxted bridge shut |
There's still no sign of any progress ... perhaps we need some Christmas lights on the bridge barrier! |
Hey boss, sign the charter! |
Have you signed the Colchester Cycling Charter yet? If not, please do. If you work or volunteer, please ask your organisation to sign too. The more people on bikes, the fewer traffic jams will snarl up our city. |
Don't bin me... pass me on |
Feel free to pass on this newsletter via email and social media by using the link at the very top ... and encourage your friends to join the campaign so they receive their own copy every month. |
Chairman: Stuart JohnsonVice-secretary: Will BramhillTreasurer: Catherine Johnson Your committee: Alex Hooper, Chris Stevenson, Jean Quinn, Nathaniel Catchpole, Alan Spence, Kristin Bradley and Paul Byrne |
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