Green Party councillors have called for an end to plans for a new A12, and all other new major roads in mid-Essex, in a bid to reduce traffic pressures on the area.

In a report out this week, the Party focuses on the need for a high quality public transport system instead of more cars.

New roads, they claim, would harm the environment and reduce the overal quality of life.

Their proposals include:

An end of major road building, which would mean no new A12, no local link road, no Witham northern bypass and no new A120 east of Braintree

More investment in pdestrian facilities, including school crossings and rural footpaths

More cycle paths, especially to Witham railway station

Support for the long-awaited Braintree to Stansted rail link, and for the agreed upgrades to the Witham to Braintree line

Public subsidies to reduce peak fares that currently put people off using bus services

Partnership plans to greatly improve bus services in towns and villages, including peak time dedicated services to reduce road congestion around railway stations and schools

Braintree district councillor James Abbott said proposals for major new roads were based on the discredited idea that new roads would solve traffic congestion.

"Braintree district faces the high road traffic growth in Essex over the next decade," he said.

"We believe it is possible to reverse that trend if there is a major switch to providing the much-promised modern public transport system."

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