A long-term aim to deter all Colchester motorists from commuting into town is gathering pace.

Colchester Council has appointed consultants to look at the viability of introducing a major park-and-ride scheme.

If seen as an option, it could mean drivers will be urged to leave their cars at park-and-ride spots around the borough and get a bus into town centre workplaces.

Parking sites could be set up at Cuckoo Farm, Stanway, near the garrison, at the Hythe and as far out as Mersea Island.

The aim would be to beat congestion and pollution in the town centre. The consultants will first report back in a few months' time to see if the park-and-ride concept would make financial sense.

And if so, they will then look at the finer details, such as weighing up the costs of buses with the money that would no longer be paid at car parks.

Colchester Council transport chief Terry Sutton (Lib Dem, Berechurch) said: "Our policy is to encourage park-and-ride but, first of all, we have got to see if it is likely to work."

Colchester currently operates a Saturday park-and-ride for shoppers which has proved popular, particularly with visitors from far afield.

Colchester Council has just published its first long-term transport policy.

The five-year plan outlines problems to be tackled if funding is forthcoming.

The park-and-ride project is high on the agenda alongside plans to look at cutting the amount of school traffic.

Possibilities include re-introducing school buses and persuading parents to car share.

Mr Sutton said: "Our next major area to look at is travel to school. When schools are on holiday, traffic flow noticeably improves in Colchester and we need look into that and see if changes can be made."

Extra cash pledged

Colchester Council has secured extra cash on top of the £633,000 allocated to the borough by the county as part of the Local Transport Plan for Essex.

A transport study of the eastern road and rail routes from Clingoe Hill into the town centre will be carried out at a cost of £35,000.

Further pressure will be put on this already busy "eastern corridor" once the development at the Hythe takes place and a new railway station has been proposed for this area.

An extra £50,000 will go towards improving cycle routes in town. It will help improve special stopping areas for cyclists at traffic lights and create more of them.

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