MILLIONS of pounds will be invested in creating healthier streets across Essex – and it will see new walking and cycling routes come to Colchester.

The Government has confirmed Essex County Council will be awarded £5.27million from the Active Travel Fund 4, which supports local authorities to design and implement changes to boost active travel use.

The new schemes support the council’s ambition for Essex to make every street a healthier place to enjoy.

Four schemes have secured funding in Colchester, including the design of a new route stretching between the Severalls Lane roundabout, Highwoods, and Avon Way, Greenstead.

The Colne Causeway crossing, in the Hythe, will also be upgraded.

Finally, two roads will be transformed as part council’s Healthy School Streets initiative, which features a package of measures to make the street more visible - to highlight to drivers that there is a school within the vicinity.

Healthy School Streets are designed to improve streets around schools, especially for children, aiming to make them more accessible and attractive for walking, wheeling, and cycling.

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Winstree Road, Stanway, and Hawthorn Avenue, Parsons Heath, will follow in the footsteps of Norman Way, Lexden, which joined the initiative in April.

Temporary street art was placed on the road, which is home to Philip Morant, St Benedict’s, and Colchester County High School for Girls, which saw residents dub the road “Teletubby land”.

It is currently unknown if similar coloured spots will be added to the other roads.

Plans to revamp the Balkerne Hill pedestrian crossing and put in place a new cycle lane along Crouch Street West have been shelved.

County councillor Lee Scott, responsible for highways maintenance and sustainable transport, said: “I want every resident to be able to be able to choose how they travel each day and not have to take their car because it’s the only option they have.

“It is essential we embrace alternative transport methods as we know that high volumes of traffic have a negative impact on the roads in our towns and cities.

“It is fantastic news that our sustainable transport team has won this funding, allowing us to create the safe spaces for travel that I know residents want, and I encourage those that can, to commit to go for a walk or bike ride.”