Roundabout work aims to make city more welcoming

Engineering work at the Albert Roundabout in Colchester, Essex, aimed to improve first impressions of the city

Work to try to make the entrance to a city more welcoming to visitors is due to start on Monday.

Engineering work at the Albert Roundabout in Colchester, Essex, aimed to improve first impressions for people arriving from the train station.

The top layer of soil would be removed and replaced with sand sourced from a local quarry, to ensure no weed seeds were introduced to the site.

Drought-tolerant plants would also be introduced which required minimal watering and maintenance, to help keep long-term costs down.

'Connected community'

The removed soil would be reused in the new Meanwhile Garden at Firstsite, which has been designed by Beth Chatto Gardens, who also designed the new planting scheme for the roundabout.

Plants have been carefully chosen for their benefit to wildlife and habitat mounds would be created on the roundabout to encourage a variety of insects to move in.

The work, funded by Essex County Council, Colchester City Council and Greater Anglia, would be carried out overnight for two weeks.

The 'Thank you NHS' sign, which was placed on the roundabout during the Covid-19 lockdown, would also be moved to the Meanwhile Garden.

Councillor Luxford Vaughan, who is responsible for planning, environment and sustainability, said: "This project is about making it more enjoyable for people who walk.

"By supporting sustainable travel, we’re helping to create a healthier, more connected community."