Have your say on proposed expansion of Chelmer Valley Park and Ride
A public consultation has been launched about proposals to expand the existing Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site.
The 500-space expansion, which is planned as part of Essex County Council’s Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, is needed to help accommodate a forecast increase in Park and Ride demand in the future.
Passenger numbers are increasing again following the COVID-19 pandemic and there is significant growth planned, including in the north Chelmsford area and the Braintree district.
Therefore, it was always anticipated Chelmer Valley Park and Ride would need expansion in the future and land for the expansion was safeguarded in the Chelmsford Local Plan.
In March last year, when Essex County Council decided not to take forward proposals for a new Park and Ride site in Widford as part of the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, it provided an opportunity to fund the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride expansion.
Under the proposals, the expansion would be made to the east and slightly to the north of the existing site, which is located off the A130 Essex Regiment Way.
Once expanded, it would have approximately 1,500 parking spaces in total, including designated electric vehicle, disabled and parent and child spaces.
Various pedestrian and cyclist improvements would be made throughout the site and additional new cycle lockers would also be provided to promote cycling between the Park and Ride, new housing areas and the city centre.
A public consultation about the proposed expansion was launched today (Monday 30 January 2023) and is open for six weeks, closing on Sunday 12 March 2023.
Cllr Lesley Wagland OBE, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said: “Park and Ride remains a crucial part of our strategy to encourage people travelling into Chelmsford from outside of the city to use an alternative means of transport than driving.
“It offers a quick and easy way to travel into the city centre and reduces the number of cars on the city’s roads, helping reduce congestion and improve air quality.
“Although Park and Ride passenger numbers have fallen since the pandemic and many people’s working patterns have changed, use of our Park and Ride sites is growing and we expect demand to increase significantly in the future because of planned growth in the area.
“By expanding Chelmer Valley Park and Ride, we can ensure there is enough capacity to meet this future demand.
“This public consultation is your opportunity to comment on these proposals and help shape the final scheme before a planning application is submitted this summer.”
To find out more about the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride proposals and complete the short consultation survey, visit www.essex.gov.uk/armyandnavy.
Essex County Council is also hosting two drop-in consultation events at High Chelmer Shopping Centre in Chelmsford to allow people to meet the project team and ask any questions. The events will take place from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 9 February 2023 and 10am to 3pm on Saturday 25 February 2023.