The new “City” of Colchester

When Colchester became a “city” I publicly raised concerns about Mersea and Pyefleet villages being included within the new city boundary:

“I am sure none of us living on Mersea Island would wish to dampen the joy of our neighbours in Colchester at their town officially re-gaining city status some 1,600 years after the Romans left…
…But it does need to be said on behalf of those in Mersea and other nearby villages that the price we have been required to pay for that, the imposition of city status on our own rural communities, has been too high.”
​ (see full letter in the County Standard HERE) 

Royal Mail deliveries on Mersea

“I have twice asked Royal Mail how many times it has failed to meet legal universal service obligation in the last six months…Our MP has now kindly agreed to raise the question in parliament..”
 Daily Telegraph 28 November 2023
Read the full letter HERE

Sea defence

“Unfortunately, as Mersea Island is the only part of the coast in Colchester City Council’s area, it is clearly not a priority. However, the real decision-making power lies with the Environment Agency…It is clear that the whole process by which decisions are made affecting sea defence needs urgent reform.”

(Read the full letter in The Courier June 2023 HERE)

​Bradwell

Last year I raised concerns with our local MP Sir Bernard Jenkin about the impact of possible developments at Bradwell on Mersea’s world famous oyster industry. In January this year he raised similar concerns in parliament.

Colchester City Centre

“The greatest challenge facing Colchester city centre is that we now have two distinct retail areas, one for major chain stores at Stanway and another, which they have largely moved out of, in the city centre. If the small independent shops which make up the bulk of Colchester’s shops are to survive, Colchester City Council needs to encourage more people from the rural areas to come into Colchester – not discourage them.”
County Standard 14 July 2023
​Read the full letter HERE

“Colchester has an amazing historical heritage which, with the right vision, could enable it to be a thriving tourist centre like Bath or York, which people visit on city breaks. So, whilst it’s very welcome that the City Council masterplan is looking to invest in heritage facilities, this will only work if we have a thriving town centre shopping area, which will require attracting more people into the town centre shops, not less.”
County Standard 28 July 2023.
​Read the full letter HERE