A letter to Philip Morant

Dear Philip Morant School, your school is a leader in green travel. The biggest group of pupils arrives by foot. Your proportion of young people cycling to school is very high by UK standards. Even amongst those scholars who arrive by car, it is often a parent dropping them off on the way to work, and not the reviled "school-run personal taxi-service" that many are quick to comment upon.

Philip Morant School, St Benedict's Catholic College and Colchester County High School for Girls were all built in a quiet area away from the main roads, making the walk and cycle to school a better option for many. It is a matter of shame that for over thirty years, between the three schools and Colchester and Essex Councils, nobody has been prepared to provide better quality paths for those who have chosen to get to those schools under their own steam, and for local people passing through the area.

But what about the future? Everyone is flexing their green credentials, showing how they are helping promote walking and cycling to school. And the latest issue is the new road access to Philip Morant School. One of the last public green open spaces in this area will have its character changed once the road is built. But what about the details? It is imperative that the new access is built to reflect the current dominance of green transport, and to meet the three schools' and our society's aspirations for even more people to take part in Active Travel. Hundreds of pupils and the local community pass through this green area every day, between Irvine Road, Norman Way (north and south sections)and the three schools.

With the new road coming into this safe sanctuary for walkers and cyclists, who will have priority? Will it be the hundreds of people on foot or bike, or will it be the dozens travelling by car? This already is a good area for walking and cycling, and it can be made even better. There is much talk about promoting green travel, but we are judged by what we do.

So Philip Morant, how about providing a decent footpath and cycle network around your school; wide routes, with a good year-round smooth surface, and good forward visibility. (You know what we mean, like the sort of quality facility you would provide if you were building a road access.)

How about giving absolute priority for those on foot and bike, and passage to cars only when there are no pedestrians wanting to cross the route of the new access road?

Or will it be business as usual, with relatively poor routes for walkers and cyclists, where priority is given to motorists?

"Colchester walk to work" looks forward to some creative design to improve access to these schools for all modes of transport, or will it just be all about cars?

Notes: Copy of letter sent to Philip Morant, St Benedict's and CCHS, CBC and ECC members and officers, and local papers.
"Colchester walk to work" wants to see better routes for pedestrians, to encourage more journeys to work, school, business or leisure by those on foot.