Chelmsford could have one of the first permanent park and ride schemes in Essex if a £5m bid for a site is approved by the Government.

The site would probably be south of the urban town area.

The county council's highways and transportation policy development group was told by transportation planning manager Chris Stevenson last week that a bid for funding up to this amount had been submitted following studies into various possible sites around the county town

These had been whittled down to four, serving the main traffic corridors of A130 south/A414 east, A12/north/A130 north, and A12 south/A414 east

A main aim is to intercept traffic from at least two major routes into the town with one scheme, Mr Stevenson told councillors.

Although he did not indicate a specific site, it is understood that a southern location is favoured for the first development

A report to the group pointed out that consultants predicted a reduction of about nine per cent in traffic on the major road corridors into the town if park and ride schemes were introduced. the report said: "A nine per cent reduction is approaching the reduction in traffic experienced in school holidays."

Councillor Rodney Bass, county cabinet member for transport, said that partnership between the county and Chelmsford borough councils was essential if the scheme was to be a success

"It is not an anti-car strategy, it is a pro-car strategy," he said. "Motorists must be fed up with increasing traffic jams coming into the centre of Chelmsford. It is positive for motorists and for the centre of Chelmsford in so far as it affects trade and industry."

Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003

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