COLCHESTER'S first Park and Ride scheme is finally set to open within 11 months, after years of setbacks.

Essex County Council has confirmed the £6million scheme at Cuckoo Farm will open at the end of next March.

A road and bus lane, linking the Northern Approach Road with the A12 junction 28 and the future park and ride was due to completed this summer.

But flooding earlier this year meant the opening of the NAR was also delayed and is now due to be completed by this December.

Essex County Council has agreed to forward-fund the park and ride while funding it is finalised with the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

It also said there will be further consultation on bus priorities measures in Colchester town centre and on the potential routes for the Park and Ride buses in and out of the town.

Rodney Bass, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for Highways and Transportation, said: “Essex County Council is happy to demonstrate its commitment to providing a Park and Ride at Colchester, following the very successful introduction of Park and Ride at Chelmsford.”