A PARK-and-ride scheme could be up and running in a village near Colchester by the end of 2010, a developer has claimed.

Williamson Developments, which once ran a major fruit farm in Langham, wants to build a park and ride on land between the A12 and Wick Road, and move the A12 junction to the village further north.

An outline plan has been submitted to Colchester Council and if it is accepted as part of the authority's core strategy, then a planning application could be submitted in about 12 months, according to DLP Planning director Neil Osborn, who has been hired to draw up the scheme.

If the application is approved, then the first cars could be using the system by the end of 2010, he said, years before any park and ride at nearby Cuckoo Farm would be set up.

"The Williamson land at Langham seems to meet all the fundamental criteria you would have if you started from scratch with a park and ride," he said.

"The park and ride is a very practical proposal which could come forward almost immediately. This is deliverable in the very short term."

The potential scheme has sparked opposition from village residents, who packed out a public meeting last month to express fears that it would change the nature of the village and exacerbate problems on the village's roads.

But director Glenn Williamson said the moved junction, which would add a new road linking with Birchwood Road and Park Lane, would improve safety for motorists, and added that a buffer of trees would stop residents living on Wick Road from being affected by noise and light pollution.

"We believe the park and ride has got a lot of positive transport benefits for the people of Langham," he said.

"As a family, we care about the village. Everything we do will be done thoroughly, and we will make sure it has a minimal effect on the people who live there."

LAND owned by Williamson could also be used to build houses and a business park.

As part of its submission to Colchester Council, the developer proposes building a business park to the south of the park and ride, and an undisclosed number of homes on three other parcels of land in Langham.

Director Glenn Williamson said he believed that, while plenty of smaller homes had been built in the town centre in recent years, there was scope to build larger ones in the surrounding villages such as Dedham and Langham.

Although discussions are ongoing as to what could be built there, Mr Williamson said part of a plot of land off School Road could be used as parking spaces for parents bringing children to Langham Primary School.

"In Colchester, there has been a huge number of apartments built and we are seeing problems," he said.

"We would like to see good quality family homes for village people and for other people to come in."

He added it would further reduce congestion in the town centre.