New bus shelters installed at Colchester Zoo as part of Essex upgrade programme

New bus shelters have been installed at Colchester Zoo to improve the travel experience for visitors and staff.

The shelters were delivered by Essex County Council in partnership with Bauer Media Outdoor UK, First Bus and Colchester Zoological Society (CZS). Featuring improved lighting, additional seating and bespoke zoo branding, the new structures create a safer, more comfortable waiting environment while highlighting the zoo’s conservation work.

The installation forms part of the council’s 10-year programme to upgrade bus shelters across Essex, improving accessibility, safety and the overall passenger experience.

The previous shelters on Maldon Road were small and unlit. The upgraded structures aim to encourage more visitors and staff to travel sustainably by bus when visiting the zoo.

The upgraded shelters offer a range of features, including:

• solar powered lighting
• extra capacity and improved seating
• unique CZS branding and imagery
• a new Colchester Zoo sign on the front of each shelter, plus a moving image, or lenticular feature, highlighting CZS’s sustainability and conservation work
• •a ‘Tap to Donate’ QR code to encourage visitors and bus users to make safe and secure online donations that help fund the zoo’s conservation work.

The new shelters are designed to make bus travel more attractive, reducing car trips, easing congestion, and helping to lower emissions.

The previous shelters will be recycled and used elsewhere to maintain the sustainability of the programme and save money.

Councillor Mark Platt, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “These new bus shelters show how meaningful improvements can make bus travel more attractive, accessible, and sustainable for everyone.

“By investing in modern, better lit and more welcoming infrastructure, we’re supporting greener journeys, reducing congestion, and helping one of Essex’s leading attractions continue to thrive.”

Louise Stubbings, Partnerships and Creative Director, at Bauer Media Outdoor, said:

"Colchester Zoo is a fantastic addition to our ongoing bus shelter programme across Essex. Following our Milestone installations in Basildon, these custom-designed shelters demonstrate our commitment to creating infrastructure that meets the specific needs of different communities.

"This collaboration showcases what's possible when partners work together. The shelters not only provide better facilities for the million visitors who travel to the zoo each year but also help raise awareness and funding for vital conservation efforts. It's a great example of how bus shelters can actively support local institutions and sustainable travel."

CZS welcomes around one million visitors each year and is home to more than 150 species and 10,000 animals. The zoo is a major driver of tourism across Essex and the wider East of England.