CNN NEWS : Cyclists in Colchester have criticised Sainsbury’s, accusing the supermarket giant of ignoring customers who use bikes, after the store closed its pedestrian and cycle access “without warning”, prompting a council investigation.
“Sainsbury’s only thinks about car drivers”: Supermarket slammed for closing cycle access during works, diverting cyclists onto narrow footway or “fast and busy” dual carriageway
“This appears to be a typical lack of thought for people on bikes by the grocery sector,” said one local cycling campaigner, as the council opens an investigation into the closure
Cyclists in Colchester have criticised Sainsbury’s, accusing the supermarket giant of ignoring customers who use bikes, after the store closed its pedestrian and cycle access “without warning”, prompting a council investigation.
The route’s closure, preventing cyclists from accessing the Tollgate, Stanway branch of Sainsbury’s from Essex Yeomanry Way, means that people arriving at the store on foot or by bike are now being diverted onto a narrow, overgrown footpath, forcing cyclists to use the nearby “fast and busy” dual carriageway.
However, Sainsbury’s has clarified that the closure is only short term and is required “for safety” due to ongoing remedial works, though local campaigners have branded the route’s full closure as unnecessary and indicative of “typical lack of thought” for cyclists.
“Blocking the route isn’t necessary. This has inconvenienced so many Sainsbury customers. They should have thought about this much more carefully,” local cyclist Andy Sample, a member of the Colchester Cycling Campaign, said this week.
Signs have been placed near the access point warning that the footpath is closed and diverting pedestrians onto a narrow path, which Sample says is too narrow to be classified as shared-use.
“Overgrowth means the footway is so narrow that a cyclist pushing their bike would have trouble passing a pedestrian,” he says. “And the alternative for people on bikes is the fast and busy dual carriageway.”
Will Bramhill, the campaign’s secretary, added: “This crossing serves thousands of people in the Halstead Road, Lucy Lane, and Peace Road area as well as those south of London Road, many of whom prefer to cycle than drive or do not have 24/7 access to a car.
“While we appreciate that Sainsbury’s has to protect contractors, they should think about their customers too. Is this full closure really necessary?
“The campaign made sure this path was put in when the store opened. Sainsbury’s only seems to be thinking about car drivers.
“This appears to be a typical lack of thought by the grocery sector. A year ago, Asda was going to build over its cycle access, leaving a one-metre-wide footway. It was only protests by the campaign and local councillors that stopped that.”
Meanwhile, Colchester’s mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell revealed that the local council are currently investigating the route’s closure for pedestrians and cyclists.
“As soon as I heard about this, I raised a complaint with planning enforcement who are continuing to investigate,” she said.
Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “The area has been temporarily cordoned off to safely carry out remedial works on the store and these are expected to be completed within the next week.
“There are signposts directing customers to an alternative route and we appreciate their patience while these works are carried out.”
