Major road in Colchester to shut for 12 months for charity snail race

Mersea Road is set to close for up to a year as part of an ambitious new fundraiser, which will see hundreds of snails race along its entire length.

The event, organised by local authorities and a group of Colchester charities, is expected to last around ten to twelve months — though organisers admit it could take even longer, depending on the weather.

Council officials have reassured residents that the closure will not cause any additional disruption. “The snails will be moving at roughly the same speed as usual traffic on Mersea Road, so you won’t even notice a difference,” a spokesperson said.

Dubbed the Mersea Crawl, the race will see the snails set off from the northern end of the road, with the first to reach the finish line near Mersea Island winning a lifetime supply of lettuce.

Each snail will be individually sponsored, with money raised going towards pothole repairs, pedestrian crossings, and enhanced public transport solutions including a second Rapid Transit Scheme.

Concerns have been raised by local businesses, who fear a year-long road closure could impact trade. However, organisers argue that the race could bring in tourists keen to witness what is being described as "the slowest sporting event in human history.”

Some residents have welcomed the event as a fun way to highlight the city’s ongoing traffic problems, while others are less impressed.

The race is due to begin this summer, with road diversions set to be in place. However, early reports suggest many of these will simply lead drivers back to the same roadworks they’ve been stuck in since 2018.