Transport chiefs are bidding for £15 million to unlock Colchester's congested roads.

They have drawn up a five-year plan to make significant steps towards a long-term solution to the traffic problems in the town and rural areas.

The long-term strategy builds on previous annual plans which were funded year by year.

It forms part of Essex County Council's bid for transport cash from the Government.

And Colchester is hoping its slice of the cash pie will work out at between £2 and £3 million a year from April 2001.

Colchester Council will find out in December how much it gets. But if all £15 million is granted it will be used to fund a range of initiatives, including:

Improving bus stops and passenger information boards on more routes

Making routes to schools safer

Introducing "quiet lanes" in rural areas for horseriders, ramblers and cyclists

Upgrading rail access from the east

Reinforcing 30mph village limits.

Colchester Council's head of environmental policy, David Green, said: "The plan outlines a general programme of schemes for the next five years for the town and rural areas.

"Some of the details of the schemes will be worked out later with the public and the transport forum.

"The strategy will be subject to variations and refinement and is still subject to review by the transport forum, which involves consulting the community on traffic management issues."

It is the first time the borough has had to draw up such a long-term transport funding bid.

Last month Essex County Council gave the borough £633,000 to finish off public transport based projects such as bus lanes, and revamp of Queen Street bus station, this financial year.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.