A PUBLIC transport campaigner has suggested workers living in Colchester and driving into town should pay a parking levy.

Colchester Council is trying to find ways to improve sustainable transport in the town and lower fuel emissions.

The topic was discussed at the council’s policy and public initiatives panel meeting and bus campaigner Peter Kay came up with a possible solution.

He suggested anyone who lives in Colchester and drives into town for work during peak times should pay a fee to park their car.

He said after the meeting: “Colchester has a major problem from its abnormally high number of inner area workplace free parking spaces.

It appears the imposing council can set the sum as high or low as it wants, and choose the area as it wants too.

“Also the employer can pay the charge or pass it on to the employees.

“Lots of other people whose employers don’t have car parks have always had to pay for all day public parking anyway and that costs a lot more per day than what the privileged people would end up paying per day under a workers parking levy.

“The whole thing is quite different from shoppers parking issues because all councils setting shoppers parking rates have to think of whether people will go to shop somewhere else instead.

“In contrast no employer or employee is going to relocate elsewhere purely because they are now paying £300 per year for parking.

“The idea is the money raised goes to improving other transport.”

He used Nottingham as an example, where money went towards a tram system.

The matter was discussed at the council’s Policy and Public Iniatives Panel meeting and will go to Cabinet for further discussion.