COLCHESTER has been allocated millions of pounds to try to tackle its congestion crisis.

Money has been set aside by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and will be spent by Essex County Council’s local growth fund.

The partnership has pledged £5million to develop a Colchester town centre traffic and access strategy, which will encourage people to use public transport as well as to cycle and walk.

It is understood the strategy also includes plans to overhaul key junctions in the town centre, including the busy Colne Bank roundabout, to provide extra slip lanes for traffic coming from Westway to Cymbeline Way and from Cymbeline Way into Station Approach.

The funding comes as Essex Highways projects the town’s peak time traffic to grow by 18 per cent by 2023.

Bosses have also said the bus network is under used and innovative transport measures will be required to support economic growth in Colchester.

Although highways bosses are tight-lipped about the exact details of specific projects, a spokesman said: “The funding is aimed particularly at corridors from the western and eastern side of the town through to the town centre and at improvements within the town centre.

“These measures for Colchester town centre and its approaches focus on traffic and congestion reduction alongside bus priority and traffic management measures, to improve the economic vitality of the town centre while delivering operational improvements across the wider town centre area.”

The unspecified projects will also complement the introduction of Colchester Park and Ride.

County Hall is also set to recoup £5.9million from the partnership, which will pay for the town’s park and ride – due to open on April 13.

Some £2million will also be made available for a series of projects to upgrade walking and cycling routes in north Colchester, including in developments yet to be agreed on Colchester Council-owned land near to the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Paul Bird, director for commissioning of transport and infrastructure at Essex County Council, said the funding is a “major fillip”.

He added: “This money will be used for a major investment package that will ensure a sustainable and first-class transport system for Essex, one that aids the economic growth of the area and meets demands of a growing population.”