The Colchester scheme was lifted on and normal traffic restored on 21^st April.

The scheme was managed by Essex County Council on behalf of Colchester Borough Council and decided to suspend the scheme based on the large number of objections from businesses, local people and the threat of legal challenge from the disability group Fair Access 2 Colchester.

Here's the campaign highlights:

Colchester High Street Campaign- CAMPAIGN WIN

• The Scheme was formally suspended on 11 April
• The FSB report included
• Telephone and online survey
• Report from independent traffic engineer
• Findings and recommendations from the FSB that proved irrefutably that the impact on local businesses would be severe and forced the council to act.
• Significant coverage in the local press, regional television and radio, raising the profile of the FSB and highlighting the campaign and challenges faced by local businesses

• FSB publications kept members up to date on the campaign
• Bytesize online newsletter carried regular updates
• The full story was published in Essex Voice

• 200 posters handed out to businesses by FSB members, staff and membership advisor during the campaign
• FSB joined the monitoring group early on and presented its findings to the group.
• Sir Bob Russell MP for Colchester was contacted and informed of the impact of the scheme on local businesses
• All three key recommendations made by FSB shown to be valid
• Serious incident involving motorbike and pedestrian on day 4
• Businesses struggling to take deliveries in and up to 73% drop in trade reported

• Disabled groups have criticised the scheme as reducing accessibility and challenged compliance of the scheme.

• Finally the FSB has called for Colchester borough Council to go back to the drawing board and begin a wide ranging consultation of local businesses, residents and visitors to gauge views on a credible way forward for the town.