On Monday 16 September, important work will begin at the Albert roundabout in Colchester, with the aim of making the city more welcoming to visitors arriving in the city.
As part of the "Fixing the Link" initiative, the project aims to improve first impressions of Colchester for people arriving at the train station. The work, funded by Essex County Council, Colchester City Council and Greater Anglia, will take place overnight for two weeks and will involve removing the top layer of soil from the roundabout. This soil will be reused in the new Meanwhile Garden at Firstsite, which with no cost to the community has been designed and planted, by the well-known team at Beth Chatto Gardens working along with other local business and charities and community groups.
The topsoil from the roundabout will be replaced with sand sourced from a local quarry, which ensures no weed seeds are introduced and also provides a low nutrient substrate for planting into for good root establishment and long-term health of the plants.
Beth Chatto’s expert horticultural team has also designed the planting scheme for the Albert roundabout and will be responsible for the planting itself. The specially designed drought-tolerant planting will require minimal watering and maintenance, helping to keep long-term costs down. Plants have been carefully chosen for their benefit to wildlife. Additionally, habitat mounds will be created on the roundabout to encourage a variety of insects to make their home.
The "Thank you NHS" sign, which was placed on the roundabout during the COVID-19 lockdown, will also be moved to the Meanwhile Garden. This garden, created on a previously unused site, will offer a peaceful space in the city centre where people can enjoy a mix of ornamental plants alongside wild growth.
The Fixing the Link initiative, initially inspired by Colchester's historical ties to elephants, includes public art and wayfinding improvements along the one-mile route from Colchester train station to the city centre. The project not only aims to make the city more attractive but also encourages people to walk from the train station to the city centre more often.
Cllr Luxford Vaughan, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment and Sustainability, said: "We are pleased to be working with partners like Beth Chatto and Essex Highways to make Colchester a more attractive and accessible place. This project is about making more enjoyable for people who walk. By supporting sustainable travel, we’re helping to create a healthier, more connected community. The improvements at the Albert roundabout and the creation of the Meanwhile Garden are great examples of how we can work together to achieve these goals.”
Julia Boulton, CEO of Beth Chatto Gardens and Beth Chatto’s Granddaughter, said: “We are excited to be working with Essex County Council, Colchester City Council and Greater Anglia on their project ‘Fixing the Link’. The planting will be a different aesthetic to that usually applied to municipal spaces. We are using over 80 different species to create a beautiful and abundant planting which will not only nurture wildlife, but also reduce ongoing maintenance needs. It isn’t going to be a replica of the Gardens here in Elmstead Market as there are many issues that need to be considered when planting next to a road, for instance planting within the first 10 metres of the edge must be a maximum height of 50cm. We will be planting over 2,800 individual plants.”
While the work is being done, one lane will be closed overnight on the approach to the Albert roundabout, affecting North Station Road, Cowdray Avenue, and Colne Bank Avenue. Journey times should not be affected by this work.
Page last reviewed: 13 September 2024