Hawthorn Avenue

Creating Safer Streets Around Hawthorn Avenue

In 2023 and 2024, we launched the first phase of our Safer Streets for Schools project on Hawthorn Avenue by working with local schools' community through a survey and school gate event to shape the changes on the street. With funding from Active Travel England, in April 2025, these improvements were made:

  • A new raised zebra crossing to slow traffic and improve conditions when crossing
  • New speed cushions outside Colchester Academy
  • New pencil-shaped bollards and footway resurfacing
  • Bus stop repositioning
  • School Street Enforcement – officer will more frequently enforce restrictions as well as encourage considerate parking
  • Bikeability Training – Cycle safety training for pupils


What we've also offered the schools:


  • School Travel Plans – We’re supporting schools to create or continue their plans with help from our Travel Plan team
  • Active Travel Pledges – We encourage pupils to sign these each year to promote healthy, sustainable travel
  • Car Sharing Materials – Encouraging families to share lifts where possible
  • Sustainable Travel Route Maps – Helping families find the best walking and cycling routes
  • Pedestrian Road Safety Training – Teaching children how to stay safe on foot
  • Educational Materials – Including resources on air quality and anti-idling


Priorities for future funding include:

  • Introducing more green space, speed limits and signage.
  • Exploring additional crossing points.
  • Widening footpaths.
  • Introducing segregated cycle paths.


If you have any questions or suggestions, please get in touch at sgh.routes@essex.gov.uk.


Creating Safer Streets Around Hawthorn Avenue

In 2023 and 2024, we launched the first phase of our Safer Streets for Schools project on Hawthorn Avenue by working with local schools' community through a survey and school gate event to shape the changes on the street. With funding from Active Travel England, in April 2025, these improvements were made:

  • A new raised zebra crossing to slow traffic and improve conditions when crossing
  • New speed cushions outside Colchester Academy
  • New pencil-shaped bollards and footway resurfacing
  • Bus stop repositioning
  • School Street Enforcement – officer will more frequently enforce restrictions as well as encourage considerate parking
  • Bikeability Training – Cycle safety training for pupils


What we've also offered the schools:


  • School Travel Plans – We’re supporting schools to create or continue their plans with help from our Travel Plan team
  • Active Travel Pledges – We encourage pupils to sign these each year to promote healthy, sustainable travel
  • Car Sharing Materials – Encouraging families to share lifts where possible
  • Sustainable Travel Route Maps – Helping families find the best walking and cycling routes
  • Pedestrian Road Safety Training – Teaching children how to stay safe on foot
  • Educational Materials – Including resources on air quality and anti-idling


Priorities for future funding include:

  • Introducing more green space, speed limits and signage.
  • Exploring additional crossing points.
  • Widening footpaths.
  • Introducing segregated cycle paths.


If you have any questions or suggestions, please get in touch at sgh.routes@essex.gov.uk.


  • Hawthorn Avenue

    We’d love to hear about your travel habits and how you're finding the first phase of our Safer Streets for Schools project on Hawthorn Avenue now that the changes are complete. Your feedback will help us better understand how people experience the street and explore ways we can work together to make it safer for everyone. 

    In April 2025, these changes were made:

    • A new raised zebra crossing to slow traffic and improve conditions when crossing
    • New speed cushions outside Colchester Academy
    • New pencil-shaped bollards and footway resurfacing
    • Bus stop repositioning
    • School Street Enforcement – officer to enforce restrictions as well as encourage considerate parking


    What we've also offered the schools:

    • School Travel Plans 
    • Active Travel Pledges – We encourage pupils to sign these each year to promote healthy, sustainable travel
    • Car Sharing Materials – Encouraging families to share lifts where possible
    • Sustainable Travel Route Maps – Helping families find the best walking and cycling routes
    • Pedestrian Road Safety Training – Teaching children how to stay safe on foot
    • Educational Materials – Including resources on air quality and anti-idling

    Why your views matter

    It is important to receive your feedback as it informs Essex County Council on the lived experiences of those within the area and help us understand the impact that interventions had. 

    About You

    In order to ensure the continued development of our Diversity and Equality practices, everyone that we work with is asked to complete the information below. You are not obliged to answer any of the questions, but the more information you supply, the more effective our monitoring will be. If you choose not to answer these questions, it will not affect your participation. The information you supply below is confidential and will be used solely for monitoring purposes.

    For more information or if you would like to receive a paper coy of the survey, please contact SGH.Routes@essex.gov.uk

    Take Survey
Page last updated: 15 Sep 2025, 12:00 AM