Back Inn Time, Moulsham Lodge Post Office and Van

Diemens Final Road Layout - By Cllr

February! Already! How’d that happen? Christmas already seems like such a long time ago. Anyway, I hope this month finds you well and enjoying the already lighter evenings.

I’m sure many of you will have heard the sad news that planning permission has finally been granted for a development of new flats to be built on the site of what is currently the much-loved independent restaurant, Back Inn Time. After Chelmsford City Council (with the support of your local Lib Dem city councillors) refused three planning applications, the applicant took the last one to appeal and, disappointingly, a government planning inspector overturned the decision, thereby granting planning permission.

Marie Goldman

essexhighways.org/highway-schemes-and-developments/highwayschemes/chelmsford-schemes/army-and-navy-taskforce.

Together with the redevelopment of the Army & Navy junction, which will become a ‘hamburger’ roundabout, journey times for all modes of transport are expected to improve. Van Diemans Road itself will get a new two-way cycle route on the western side of the road, while traffic flowing towards the Army & Navy (northbound) will be reduced from two lanes to one. Although this sounds like it will make journey times worse, modelling carried out by highways engineers suggests that journeys will in fact be several minutes quicker. Removing a lane also allows for a right-hand turn lane to be created from Van Diemans Road into Lady Lane, making this rather perilous manoeuvre much safer and less frustrating for all. In addition, there will be a revised pedestrian route at the junction with Moulsham Chase and new planting, which should increase the overall green space in this area.

As always, my Lib Dem colleagues and I are working hard all year round to make our community an even nicer place to live. If you have a council-related issue that you need help with, please let me know by getting in touch by emailing marie.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems. org.uk.

Keep warm and well.

Marie Cllr Marie Goldman

My ward colleague Cllr Graham Pooley and I have met again with the owners of Back Inn Time to discuss their options, which, I’m afraid to say, look quite limited at this point. Planning now can’t be resisted and there seems little possibility of them being able to remain in their location on Cottage Place. We hope they will be able to find a way of moving their thriving business to alternative premises (perhaps even somewhere that customers will find easier to park near to). We have asked the City Council’s Economic Development Team to help them obtain the independent advice and support that they will need to explore doing this.

Like me, I’m sure their loyal customers and those who have such fond memories of celebrating special occasions in this Chelmsford landmark will be keen to see this small business survive, even if it means relocating elsewhere in our city.

Please be assured that as your local Liberal Democrat councillors, we are doing everything we can to support them.

Moulsham Lodge Post Office

Residents of Moulsham Lodge are already well aware of the sad closure of McColl’s in Gloucester Avenue, which meant the loss of the Post Office counter facilities. I am still trying to find a solution for this. There are rumours of a possible mobile Post Office van making visits to the area and if I find out more, I will let you know. However, I have also been having discussions with Chelmsford Star Co-op who have said that in principle, they would be willing to explore the possibility of providing a home for the Post Office counter. I understand they have already had initial discussions with the Post Office, after I suggested this to them before Christmas, but the decision will also lie with the Post Office themselves. As I type this towards the end of January, I am trying to make contact with the Post Office to understand their position. Please keep an eye on my Facebook page for updates: www. facebook.com/MarieGoldmanLD.

Van Diemans Road Final Layout Design

At the January meeting of the Army & Navy Task Force, which I attended, the final designs for the new layout of Van Diemans Road were discussed and agreed. They will shortly be uploaded to the Army & Navy Sustainable Transport Package website here: www.

Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council City Councillor for Moulsham & Central County Councillor for Chelmsford Central Liberal Democrat