Council spends £90,000 'covering roundabout in sand'

A fed-up resident has slammed the £90k facelift of a roundabout near his home which he says has left it looking like a 'desert island.'

Tony Bland, 52, launched a one-man protest as he posed on the revamped Albert Roundabout in Colchester, Essex, in a deckchair and next to a parasol to oppose its 'beach-like' new look.

The cost of the roundabout, which is covered with sand, was revealed to be £93,3334 following an FOI request by Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell.

The project was carried out by the famous Beth Chatto Gardens, and funded by Essex County Council, Colchester Council, and rail operator Greater Anglia.

Their aim was to improve the first impressions of visitors arriving by train with the topsoil replaced with sand to prevent weeds growing.

Mr Bland slammed the council for the high cost of the facelift and said the roundabout had been compared to a 'cat's litter tray' and 'desert island'.

The property manager said: 'I set myself up in a sun lounger and some orange juice in plastic cups I had from camping.

'It was a perfectly serviceable roundabout and the money paid here to cover it in sand is exceptionally high.

'The rest of the area is still quite drab - it's like putting lipstick on something. The rest of it still looks bad but we've slapped something on.'

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Mr Bland said there was a growing sense of annoyance amongst residents in the city that there had been such large spending on a roundabout.

He added: 'Some people don't like it and others say it looks like a cat litter tray. Where was the public consultation process for it?

'Drunk club-goers walk across the roundabout directly at night and I would imagine they will feel it's a great idea to kick the sand up.

'There is a sense of frustration and apathy with council activities like this which are being pushed onto people in the town and council taxpayers.

'Councillors also removed some very mature grasses established in the rusty planters near the roundabout.

'They pulled all those out and filled the boxes with sand and put new plants in. They really do look like litter trays.'

Mr Bland is the founder of a campaign dedicated to fixing the 900-year-old Middle Mill Weir Bridge which collapsed last December nearby.

He added: 'The Middle Mill Weir is deserving of some funds being put towards it.

'The council say they have no money and yet they've got the funds allocated to a project like this. It is hugely frustrating.'

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: 'The Albert Roundabout redevelopment is a key element of the long-term Fixing the Link initiative.

'This project has been ongoing for nearly nine years, with extensive public updates and involvement at every stage.

'These funds were specifically allocated for the Fixing the Link initiative and cannot legally or practically be redirected to other projects or services, such as park toilet maintenance or weir repairs.

'While the planting is currently in its early stages, its full impact will only become evident after a couple of summer growing seasons.

'It is too early to draw final conclusions about the roundabout's overall aesthetic or ecological contributions.

'As we progress with initiatives like Fixing the Link, we are committed to transparency, value for public funds, and ensuring Colchester remains a vibrant and attractive city for residents and visitors alike.'