IT has been a long wait for Felixstowe residents but the Evening Star can today reveal that the chosen colour for the town's new footbridge is…….silver-grey.
IT has been a long wait for Felixstowe residents but the Evening Star can today reveal that the chosen colour for the town's new footbridge is…….silver-grey.
The colour was voted for by the people of the town after a consultation on how the new bridge should look.
Work on the £500,000 bridge is due to start today and many had hoped that it could be painted in the town's official colours of royal blue and gold.
But this combination was pipped to the post in the polls, scoring only 18 votes, compared to 22 for silver-grey. Four people opted for white.
Residents were given the choice of colours when they attended an exhibition in May but town councillors say they are disappointed with the outcome.
Malcolm Minns, a town and district councillor, said: “It is a great shame that the chosen colour was not the traditional Felixstowe town colours.
“I think it should have been pointed out to people at the exhibition that the blue and gold were the town's colours and that may have made a difference.”
Doreen Savage, a fellow councillor, said: “When the town council heard the decision we did go back to the Highways Agency and ask if it could be changed but they said that they had to go with the votes they had received at the exhibition.
“It's a shame because it could have been 'the entrance to Felixstowe' from the port.”
Brian Pitkin, Highways Agency project manager, said: “This new bridge, when completed, will provide a safe crossing point for pedestrians and wheelchair users.
“It will also provide an important link between the residential areas of Felixstowe and the commercial and leisure facilities to the west, while allowing for future provision of a cycle route.”
The work is expected to take around five months and at first will be carried out alongside the carriageway. During this work there will be narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit on both carriageways of the A14, with occasional off-peak lane closures.
Later in the scheme the footbridge will be assembled in a lay-by beside the A14, followed by a weekend closure of the A14 to allow the footbridge to be installed.
What do you think of the decision? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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