Members of the Ipswich Green Party have criticised the borough and county councils for not "having a plan" to tackle traffic congestion across the town.

The comments come after the Ipswich Transportation Task Force published a document proposing a new transport strategy - which the opposition says has no new ideas.

The 40-page document, visible on Suffolk County Council's website, is asking for a public response to the findings before coming up with specific solutions.

Members of Ipswich Greens have said they are "amazed that despite traffic congestion in Ipswich creating illegal levels of air pollution, which affects the health of everyone, the council does not have a plan."

The party has instead proposed: 

  • Making it safer to cycle and walk to school and work.
  • Encourageing the use of public transport.
  • Create new rail stations "to encourage people to use public transport".
  • Extending the 20mph limit throughout the proposed Zones 1 and 2.
  • The introduction of a Low Emission Zone for non-Ipswich residents driving through the town to help pay for passenger transport, and pay for the new cycle and pedestrian routes.

Tom Wilmot, the Green Party candidate for Alexandra Ward, said: "I'm encouraged there's finally some serious thought being given to tackling this major issue which holds our town back in so many ways, and the strategy has a lot of positive ambition.

"But we would like to see much more detail on how it would work for Ipswich and where the funding will come from."

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said they were "pleased to see that the work has now resulted in the publication of a Transport Strategy for Ipswich by Suffolk County Council."

The spokesman added: "Once the consultation period has ended and the feedback has been considered, we look forward to hearing from the county council how that feedback will influence the final version of the Ipswich Transport Strategy."

Suffolk County Council was approached for comment.