The long-running debate over pedestrianising Colchester High Street is set to be reignited.

Colchester Council’s newly-formed policy review panel has suggested members of the ruling Cabinet consider plans to ban vehicles from the High Street.

Members of the public are also set to be given their say on the controversial plans which have gone to and fro for years.

The committee is suggesting a series of consultation events should be held in the hopes of opening up a dialogue with residents and businesses in the town centre.

Committee chairman Lee Scordis (Lab) said: “We do need to look at a more comprehensive plan and we need to get more radical, especially with somewhere like Tollgate coming in which is going to affect trade.

“We need to make the town centre a hub.

“You only have to look at somewhere like Chelmsford where it has worked well.”

Councillors agreed the matter would need to be lower down on the council’s agenda as research is needed before it could be discussed.

They said this would also allow time to gage public opinion.

Mr Scordis said: “We could set up a consultation event where people can have their say.

“We think that will help open up the council and make us more transparent.

“Residents can come along and decide how it will affect them and how we can change the traffic flow.

“We can talk about the benefits and the negatives but mainly I think it gives us, as Colchester, more of a say rather than last time it was done where unfortunately both authorities bottled it.”

Lesley Scott-Boutell (Lib Dem), deputy chairman of the committee, added: “I think the beauty of doing it like this is there will be early engagement with members of the public so they can come and have their say and be listened to.”

The issue of pedestrianising Colchester High Street was a key issue during the May elections where Labour, Lib Dems and Conservatives all included it in their manifestos.

Colchester Council would need to reach an agreement with Essex County Council’s Highways department before a ban on vehicles could be implemented.

The controversial move was trialled for five weeks in 2013, but highways bosses scrapped it due to concerns around the impact on town centre shops and businesses and people with disabilities.

Fair Access to Colchester chairman Jade Hamnett said she wants to see the council consider different viewpoints.

She said: “It’s really important to listen to concerns raised and they must act on them.

“They need to genuinely engage with the public and have a reasonable plan for replacing parking spaces for blue badge holders.”

The plans were part of all parties' manifesto plans in May.