A SUMMIT to tackle Colchester’s congestion problems, a clampdown on rogue pubs and clubs and no more public money for the Visual Arts Facility, are among the policies promised if Labour wins May’s Colchester Council elections.

The Labour group is currently running the borough in a coalition with Lib Dem and independent councillors.

With elections due in May, group leader Tim Young said the party wanted to make the council focus on the core services it provided.

He said: “If you ask people what they want from the council, they would say they want ed rubbish picked up, antisocial behaviour tackled and the streets kept safe and clean.

“Here is a bold, radical manifesto, putting support and faith in the public services we think people want to see.”

Mr Young said one problem the council had failed to solve was congestion.

Labour proposes a summit, bringing together local businesses, bus and train companies, taxi operators, police and Essex County Council to find a solution.

Mr Young added: “Colchester is just getting gridlocked, and we want people to come forward with ideas.”

Bob Fisher, Labour group chairman, added: “There’s a huge amount of housebuilding, so there are going to be a lot more people driving cars and using public services.

“If we don’t do something about it, in five years time, we could be in a desperate situation.”

Mr Young also wants to work in partnership with the police over problems caused by late-night drinking in the town and act against rogue pubs and clubs.

He said: “If we were to suspend a licence for a week or two or take a premises to court, the message that would send would be very clear.”

Labour also wants to remind residents it consistently opposed to the hugely over-budget Visual Arts Facility gallery project, and would not agree to spend any more money on it or the organisation which will run it.