High Bridge Road should stay, say Lib Dems

Chelmsford Council committed itself last week to knocking down High Bridge Road, from near the Odeon roundabout to Springfield Road. The local Liberal Democrats have condemned this as bad for the environment, a waste of money and sure to make traffic at the Army & Navy much worse.

The commitment came during the inquiry into the Council's Town Centre Area Action Plan, attended by Cllrs Chris Rycroft, Graham Pooley & Keith Francis and Lib Dem campaigner Stephen Robinson. Previously it had been an option; now the council wants to make a firm commitment.

At the inquiry, Town Centre Councillor Lib Dem Graham Pooley attacked the decision, saying "Chelmsford Council is toeing the developers' line again. The decision is driven by the millions at stake in the regeneration of the gas works site and Chelmer Waterside for more shopping, and more and more flats. It pays too little attention to the traffic problems that already exist."

The decision on High Bridge Road will mean a new road out of town, across the 'peninsula site' (i.e. the land between the Rivers Chelmer and Can near the old gas works and Waterfront restaurant) and on stilts across the water meadow.

It will join Chelmer Road just north of the Army & Navy roundabout. All traffic from Baddow Road and Baddow by-pass that wants to access the Springfield Road (Tesco) area will turn right at the Army & Navy, putting even more traffic onto the A&N roundabout.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson also attended the inquiry and added, "The Lib Dems have and will oppose the demolition of High Bridge Road. It is wasteful of something built just 14 years ago. The money could be better spent on other community benefits.

"This, plus the decisions also taken this week on the Community Plan for Chelmsford to 2021, underline that the Conservatives really do not place a high priority on protecting the environment, in the face of development pressures.

"We favour the use of this key part of the town of course, but on a scale which allows for the very best use of our rivers for residents and visitors alike. The thought of cramming 1000 or more flats here is intolerable, and we will continue to argue that Chelmsford's attractive shopping areas don't need the extravagant waste of tearing down a perfectly sound road."

You can read more about the public inquiry and the Community Plan on Stephen's blog http://chelmsford-stephenrobinson.blogspot.com/ and read more about the long-term development plans for Chelmsford on this web-page: cmld.org.uk/planning