CHILDREN will be allowed to travel for free at Colchester’s park and ride for one month.

Bosses at County Hall have brought in the measure to lure more families into using the site, which is running at a £600,000 a year loss.

Throughout August, people aged under 16 and travelling with an adult will be able to use the buses for free.

The incentive is also being offered at Chelmsford’s park and ride.

Phil Coleman, borough councillor for Mile End, praised the incentive, but said more needed to be done.

He said: “It’s a starting point. But why not make it more permanent?

“You could extend it to all school holidays. And why not let 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds too who are unaccompanied by a parent?

“17-year-olds can drive and own a car.”

The Gazette revealed in May the park and ride was running at a £600,000 a year loss.

Essex County Council said they hadn’t factored in the site making a profit until 2020.

But based on the losses at the site, the Gazette predicted it would be in a £2.4million deficit the same year.

Mr Coleman said he wants County Hall to look at more options so it would reduce road congestion and bring in more money.

He said: “We have done some surveys at the site and it shows the majority of users are older people who have a free bus pass and therefore don’t have to pay.

“They’re certainly doing nothing wrong, and I won’t be popular with a lot of older residents by saying this, but why not charge them £1 to park?”

Mr Coleman also suggested moving the bus stop outside Wickes, which serves North Station, to directly outside the station entrance, as well as extending the running hours of the buses from 6am to 8pm.

Currently it operates from 7am to 7pm.

An Essex County Council spokesman said the idea was to get more people to try the park and rides who haven’t done so before.

Eddie Johnson, Essex County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We know the summer holidays can be an expensive time for parents, carers and grandparents.

“That is why we have launched this promotion to help allow families to get out of the house and explore what Colchester and Chelmsford have to offer.”