A CONSERVATION area which serves as a “door mat” greeting visitors entering Colchester town centre is run-down and made miserable for residents by the actions of some selfish drivers, a disgruntled resident has claimed.

The area around North Station Road, Colchester, is home to a multitude of fast-food restaurants.

A resident of the nearby Causton Road, who has lived in the area for 25 years, says cases of selfish parking and dangerous driving by delivery drivers have become common place.

He added rubbish is often left to pile up in the street.

Pictures show bin bags stacked up high and rubbish spilling out onto the pavement.

The protestor, who asked not the be named, asked: “Has Colchester Council given up on this area?

“After designating it a conservation area, the council seems to have walked away from this historic road.

“The gateway, or ‘door mat’ as one councillor once described it, into Colchester for visitors arriving from North Station is now looking more and more neglected.

“It has become a nightmare of fast food delivery drivers and waste.

“Parking on the pavement and the zig zag lines by the crossing has become the norm.”

He added: “People might say ‘Well, why don’t you move’, or ‘why did you choose to live there.’

“I have invested 25 years of my life here, it has changed and it wasn’t like this when I first arrived. I don’t have the money and if I was to sell, who would want to buy after coming and seeing what it’s like, with drivers out the front every 30 seconds.”

A Colchester Council spokesman defended the authority’s record on protecting the conservation area.

“Far from giving up on the North Station Road area, a lot of work has been carried out and will continue to be undertaken to enhance the area,” he said.

“We are fully aware of the importance of the area as a gateway to the town.

“The conservation area designation is an important part in this, by supporting our planning processes to ensure quality and suitable changes and permissions are granted in the area.”

He added: “We are working closely with all the premises in the area to encourage them to also play their part in keeping the area tidy and will issue community protection warnings if needed to force them to enhance their area.

“The North Essex Parking Partnership are aware of the concerns regarding parking and are in the process of increasing patrols in the area.

“We are working with a range of partners to tackle any issues that come to light here and across the rest of the borough to ensure we create a better Colchester for everyone.”