SMART lockers will be installed at a car park near Colchester city centre after councillors gave the nod to a new scheme.
Colchester Council's planning committee has agreed for smart lockers to be installed at the Napier Road North car park.
The new scheme will enable shoppers to enjoy their time in the city centre without having to carry heavy shopping around by paying for an e-cargo bike to deposit their items in a secure locker at the car park, which is about a ten-minute walk from High Street.
It comes after a similar scheme was trialled successfully at Christmas, and Colchester Council says it is considering other locations to roll the scheme out at.
But Gazette readers have been left divided over the smart lockers.
What do Gazette readers think about Colchester Council's new smart lockers?
Sally Bannister said it is a "ridiculous, senseless idea".
Glen Hudson said it is "another waste of money" and feels there are "no shops for shopping" in the city centre.
Carla Wilson said: "Waste of our money yet again. There are no shops to buy anything heavy... plus I park much closer than Napier Road so could just put stuff in my boot if need be."
The smart locker installation is part of a Defra-funded project to improve air quality in the city centre.
Despite the criticism, plenty of people feel the smart lockers are a welcome addition to the car park.
Paul Baker said he feels it is "a great idea".
Patrick Mead added: "This is actually a good idea. But only if the council can get all the shops to sign up to the e-bike scheme."
The installation is set to stand in place of a “tatty looking and out of date” information board.
A mocked-up photo suggests the smart lockers will be similar in design to Amazon and InPost lockers which are located throughout the city.
The car park is a designated Park Active location, which means drivers can benefit from cheaper parking by opting to take a short walk into the city centre.
The park and ride site at Northern Gateway is a proposed location the scheme could be rolled out at.
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