A special bus detector is to be installed in Colchester's Middleborough area to give public transport the green light as soon as it arrives.

It is part of plans to axe the North Hill bus lane and keep it as a two-way road with parking bays on the Sixth Form College side of the road.

The idea being put forward by Colchester Council traffic experts is to get rid of the bus lane and install a new bus priority system.

One of the problems with the bus detector idea is that it might confuse buses with lorries and a method of dealing with that is also being looked into.

Talks with traders and businesses in the area begins on March 1 and a decision will be made about two weeks later.

The work will be done in the new financial year.

Chris Arnold, the council's transportation portfolio holder, said buses coming into Middleborough would be spotted by a long vehicle detector which would change the traffic lights to green for them as soon as possible.

Mr Arnold said: "This is not the council back-tracking. This a better way of delivering public transport priority."

Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003

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