CONGESTION in and around Ipswich could be eased even more if a third park and ride site on the outskirts of town is given the green light.A detailed proposal is to be submitted in the hope a new site can be created at Martlesham it emerged today.

CONGESTION in and around Ipswich could be eased if a third park and ride site on the outskirts of town is given the green light.

A detailed proposal is to be submitted in the hope a new site can be created at Martlesham, it emerged today.

Suffolk County Council will submit the application to the county and an extensive consultation will then be carried out before a decision whether to grant permission is made in November.

The proposed site would be built to serve people coming into Ipswich from the east and north of the town and would be located on land next to the A12 at its junction with the A1214, the road which runs through Kesgrave.

This site was chosen following the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan inquiry in 1999 and will add to the park and ride service already provided by two sites serving people to the north west and south west of the town.

Both of these – one situated in London Road, the other in Bury Road – have been popular and won Charter Mark awards for public service, together with AA and Secure Car Park awards.

The new, proposed site will have parking for around 550 cars, facilities for cyclists, a covered terminal building and extensive landscaping. The design and layout of the site, together with the operation of the bus services will be consistent with the quality achieved at the existing sites with particular attention being paid to ensure it reflects the surrounding environment.

Joan Girling, member of the county council's executive committee, said:

"Encouraging more people to use public transport is a priority for the county council.

"We want to build a new park and ride site at Martlesham to enable people on the eastern side of Ipswich easy access to the town centre and to provide an alternative for car drivers.

"This will complement the two very successful sites at London Road and Bury Road which have recently been."

If the council's application is approved later this year, work is expected to begin in February, with the site up and running by this time next year.