SHOCKED drivers watched on as a vandal took out his frustration on part of a new town centre cycle lane in Colchester.
On Friday afternoon a middle-aged man was spotted targeting one of the bollards marking the cycle route which goes from Headgate into Head Street.
The route was created by Essex County Council as part of its Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme, designed to encourage walking and cycling in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the new infrastructure has proved controversial amongst residents with concerns over delays for drivers at traffic pinch points such as Headgate.
Witnesses saw the man spend several minutes mangling the sign, leaving the part which marks it as a cycle lane twisted and upside down.
One cyclist, who was using the route heading towards town at the time, stopped to take photos of the incident unfolding.
He said: “I use the cycle lane a lot as it is a main route through the town.
“I was cycling in the lane and I saw a guy step off the pavement into the cycle lane.
“He just started trying to break the sign down.
“I didn’t hang around to see the whole thing unfold but he was there for at least five minutes with it.
“I assume he must have a problem with the cycle lane.”
He added: “Apparently the traffic in Colchester had been quite bad that day due to a crash in Cowdray Avenue so I wonder if that had got on his nerves.”
A spokesperson for Essex Highways said taxpayers would foot the bill for the “disgraceful” vandalism of the sign.
They said: “This is disgraceful, mindless vandalism and it is hoped that whoever managed to take the photo will offer it to Essex Police as potential evidence of criminal damage.
“The people of Essex pay for the repair of signs such as this one and it will be repaired as soon as possible.
“It is disappointing that on the day the Government has launched further plans to invest in active travel to mitigate increasing congestion, someone chooses to be so thoughtless.
“We would encourage anyone to report any other damaged signs to us online at www.essex.gov.uk/highways.”
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