Stanway – Gateway to Traffic Hell
There has been much publicity about the traffic hell caused by the opening of the new M&S store in Stanway. Many people have taken to social media to complain and express their frustrations about the traffic chaos and the woefully inadequate parking at Stanepark Retail park. Even the M&S main Facebook page has been bombarded with negative comments on their posts about the new Colchester store.
We’ve read scores of comments from people who visited, but will never come back again. Also, people who eventually arrived, where unable to park, and had to leave again.
One local campaigner produced a Youtube video of his experience trying to negotiate the traffic to visit the retail park.

People are asking questions how on earth Government inspectors could endorse the planning application for Stanepark, which was initially twice rejected by Colchester Borough Council, on the grounds of the negative impact to traffic and shopping in Colchester town centre.
It has been suggested that new signage is put up around Stanway to warn motorists to avoid the traffic hell they are about to enter.
The new signage could read:
“Stanway Gateway to traffic hell. Kindly sponsored by M&S, B&Q and McDonalds”
“Stane Park where no one can park”
The other end of London Road will be adding to the congestion with 9,000 extra vehicles (2,000 HGVs) if the solar plant at Copford gets the go ahead. It’s planned for quality farmland that’s sustainably farmed by tenant farmers and threatens food security. We wonder why Stane Park was built without solar panels on its rooftops. Here’s the link to object to that madness: https://www.c-a-r-e.uk/general-1
Stanway is a real example of the ridiculous planning policies in place. Frankly I think the place is awful and won’t be going near it any time soon.
There’s a Debenhams size place in the town centre.. come back M and S 😂