Council employees are hoping to tackle traffic congestion by setting a precedent for other motorists.

Colchester Council is producing a get-tough travel plan for its staff in a bid to reduce car use - and if successful, it is hoped other businesses in the town will soon follow suit.

Workers will be strongly encouraged to find other means of transport to get to work, including forfeiting their current free parking spaces if they fail to participate in a car share scheme.

The council is hoping the approach will reduce the 66 per cent of its employees using the free parking in the town and so cut car usage.

Andrew Budd, Colchester Council's transport manager, said: "At the moment car use is by far the biggest means for getting to work and we want to really reduce that.

"We would like to set a good example and then we will work with other businesses to see how they can improve their own travel plans."

Published Thursday January 8, 2004

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