THE route between Colchester North Station and the town centre looks set for an £80,000 overhaul.

Blueprints show how the onemile journey could change if the proposals receive public support.

The scheme, called Fixing the Link, would see a light sculpture created at The Albert roundabout, an elephant sculpture telling Jumbo’s story, a seated area outside the North Station Road shops and a light beacon in the spire of St Peter’s Church, at the top of North Hill.

There would also be a map of modern-day Colchester created with a model showing the original Roman Wall.

The project, the first of its kind in the UK, is being led by Dutch-owned train company Greater Anglia, which is bidding to continue to run the East Coast main line from next year.

It is being backed by Colchester Council and Essex County Council.

Gazette:

However, the contribitions from each of the parties for the project have not been disclosed.

Bill Frame, Colchester councillor responsible for business and economic growth, said: “We aren’t going to be frog-marching people up North Hill.

“But we are giving them an alternative to the bus or the train to the town station. The plan is to encourage people who want to walk, to walk through our town and find out a bit about it.” Mr Frame also said discussions with traders on the route have been positive, adding: “They have been very supportive, because it will bring more people into the town centre.”

Dominic Graham, Colchester councillor responsible for street services, called on residents to have their say on the plans.

Geraint Hughes, Abellio Greater Anglia Partnerships Manager, said: “We look forward to some of these innovative ideas being implemented later in the year.”

To view the plans, go to tiny.cc/ftl