Park and ride fares cut

COUNTY chiefs are bidding to ease the pressure on commuters' pockets by slashing the cost of park and ride service in Ipswich.

In a bid to get more people to use the town's three park and ride service a standard charge of £2.90 for the use of the car park and a bus ride into Ipswich.

The previous price was £3.20 for the park and ride services in London Road and Bury Road whereas the service from Martlesham cost £3.80.

The reduction comes at a time when people in the county are feeling the effects of the global financial crisis, with inflation currently running at more than 5pc.

Chris Elmy, senior passenger transport officer at the council, said it is hoped the move will help people struggling with increased costs in the current economic climate.

It is also predicted that an increase in use of the services will have a positive effect on traffic in Ipswich town centre.

She said: “We are trying to give the service a real boost.

“If we take 20 per cent of cars off the road everyday, those people using cars will at least be able to get through town.

“If we can get the numbers up we can hopefully keep the prices down - it is a volume thing.”

Rob Coxon, business manager at the council, said increased usage of the park and ride services will take the strain off Ipswich's town centre traffic problem.

“We are aiming to reduce the numbers of cars on the road which would have a positive effect on the environment and congestion,” he said.

“As a result of inflation it seems the cost of everything is going up but the county council is now offering a little bit of relief.

“People are looking at how they travel - when fuel prices went up a lot of people started to realise they do not actually need to take the car.”

Are you feeling the pinch from the credit crunch? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk