Latest news with #ColchesterCityCouncil
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Colchester link road must be built before 7,500 homes
A crucial link road must be built before work starts on a major housing development, councillors 7,500 homes have been planned for land east of Colchester, creating a new garden community on the Tendring border in of a new road connecting the A120 and A133 started in 2024, but stalled after costs spiralled from £99.9m to £ City Council voted to proceed with the homes plan on Monday, but only once the route was in place to tackle congestion. Pam Cox, the city's Labour MP, said following an "infrastructure-first approach" was a "turning point" for the council."We've chosen to take control of our future - to plan for homes, schools, roads and surgeries together, not in isolation," she added. Tendring District Council had already agreed to adopt the development with the same link road questions have persisted over whether it would ever be able to go 2020, the Conservative government agreed to fund the new road at a cost of £ in 2025, the Labour administration said an "escalation of costs" left a £70m shortfall - and it was not willing to pay the minister Rushanara Ali insisted a new town could be built without the road, but it would consist of 2,500 fewer a hotel, GP surgeries and sports facilities have been included in blueprints, as well as a rapid transit system. Colchester City Council, which is run by a Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition, said it could begin funding bids after voting to proceed."This is our best chance to shape growth on our terms," Cox added. "I will continue to push for the funding and delivery of the infrastructure our residents deserve."Conservatives on Colchester City Council moved to delay the vote in a bid to force the government to stump up the £ accused rival councillors of "giving away the best chance of forcing the government" to fund the leader Paul Dundas said: "We hope the gamble works and the money appears because Colchester is stuck otherwise. "We'll just hear more excuses and there'll be gridlock." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Colchester bridge repairs resume after being halted by birds
Repairs to a bridge that closed to the public more than 500 days ago have resumed after the discovery of bird nests halted to repair the bridge - which closed in December 2023 when part of the Middle Mill weir at Castle Park in Colchester fell into the River Colne - started last month but was suspended on the same City Council, which is responsible for the weir itself, said work had restarted "with close attention being paid to the wildlife throughout".One moorhen nest was still active and remained undisturbed, and measures were being taken to prevent new nests from forming, the authority said. A spokesperson said: "We'll continue to monitor the site closely to ensure that wildlife is protected while essential repairs are carried out."They added "likely nesting activity from a wren" had also been discovered under the bridge - an area currently unaffected by the to the RSPB, moorhens and wrens are protected under UK wildlife law and it is illegal to move the nest of any wild bird while it is in was able to resume after a on-site meeting last week.A diversion of about 1km (0.6 mile) has been in place while the footbridge, owned by Essex County Council, has been closed. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Colchester Castle Park bridge repairs halted after hours
Long-awaited work to repair a collapsed bridge has had to be halted after the discovery of moorhen bridge has been out of use since December 2023 - when part of the Middle Mill weir at Castle Park in Colchester fell into the River work started last Tuesday but had to be suspended the same day after one nest was found within the damaged structure - and a second in a nearby construction City Council, which is responsible for the weir itself, said it was "committed to continuing the repairs as soon as it is appropriate to do so". "The situation is being carefully monitored, and we are working closely with contractors and relevant agencies to determine the best course of action," a spokesperson to the Wildlife Trusts, moorhens are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and are known for their "large and untidy-looking nests".It is illegal to move the nest of a moorhen while it is in use.A meeting has been scheduled to "assess the impact on the project timeline", the council added. Last week, the Liberal Democrat and Labour-led authority said a boating lake in the park had closed because the damage had impacted water levels.A diversion of about 1km (0.6 mile) has been in place while the footbridge, owned by Essex County Council, has been closed. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Student flat use halves council's housing bill
Using vacant student flats to tackle a city's housing crisis has slashed thousands of pounds off a local authority's bills. Colchester City Council said it was halving its £14,000 daily cost of keeping people in temporary accommodation thanks to the scheme. It has more than 2,400 applicants on its housing register, with families facing five-year waits for a home. Labour councillor Julie Young said: "It has been transformational for those families that were living in one room." Student accommodation in the Greenstead area of the city was repurposed to house families after a council vote in September. The authority had been spending £440,000 per month on bed and breakfasts and hotels, but took action as demand continued to rise. Young said the figures were "staggering", but insisted the use of student flats - with separate bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom - had restored people's dignity. "You can't quantify the difference it must make for a family to cook their own food and eat round a table together," she said. "This is much better quality accommodation for families and it is cheaper for the council." Renting the student homes for about 150 households was costing the council £6,350 a day, more than half of what it spent on hotels and B&Bs. By the end of March, 132 of those households had benefited from the new initiative - which councillors are considering extending. Karen Loweman, a director at the council-run Colchester Borough Homes, said despite the positives she remained concerned about rising demand. There were 449 households in temporary accommodation in April, up from 326 the year before. "It's going up because there's not enough affordable houses," Ms Loweman said, She said 481 children were among those being supported, and it was "heartbreaking" to see them sharing cramped hotel rooms with their parents. The main causes of homelessness in Colchester are when private-rented tenancies end, instances of domestic abuse, and family members no longer being able to provide a home. "Our staff come into this work because they want to help people, but many now feel helpless," Ms Loweman added. But she said using student flats created a more positive environment for those receiving support. "I would like to see everyone in a house with a garden where they can bring their children up," she said. "We've found an interim solution that is better what we did have and, for now, it is certainly helping people." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. I left really bad situation with just clothes - mum Council admits failing hundreds of homeless people Student accommodation could help homeless crisis Colchester Borough Homes
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Use of Colchester student flats halves council's housing bill
Using vacant student flats to tackle a city's housing crisis has slashed thousands of pounds off a local authority's City Council said it was halving its £14,000 daily cost of keeping people in temporary accommodation thanks to the has more than 2,400 applicants on its housing register, with families facing five-year waits for a councillor Julie Young said: "It has been transformational for those families that were living in one room." Student accommodation in the Greenstead area of the city was repurposed to house families after a council vote in authority had been spending £440,000 per month on bed and breakfasts and hotels, but took action as demand continued to rise. 'Better quality' Young said the figures were "staggering", but insisted the use of student flats - with separate bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom - had restored people's dignity."You can't quantify the difference it must make for a family to cook their own food and eat round a table together," she said."This is much better quality accommodation for families and it is cheaper for the council." Renting the student homes for about 150 households was costing the council £6,350 a day, more than half of what it spent on hotels and B& the end of March, 132 of those households had benefited from the new initiative - which councillors are considering Loweman, a director at the council-run Colchester Borough Homes, said despite the positives she remained concerned about rising were 449 households in temporary accommodation in April, up from 326 the year before."It's going up because there's not enough affordable houses," Ms Loweman said, She said 481 children were among those being supported, and it was "heartbreaking" to see them sharing cramped hotel rooms with their parents. The main causes of homelessness in Colchester are when private-rented tenancies end, instances of domestic abuse, and family members no longer being able to provide a home."Our staff come into this work because they want to help people, but many now feel helpless," Ms Loweman she said using student flats created a more positive environment for those receiving support."I would like to see everyone in a house with a garden where they can bring their children up," she said."We've found an interim solution that is better what we did have and, for now, it is certainly helping people." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
