Southend could mirror New Zealand and Belgium after ‘park-and-rail’ plans were mooted as a way to help cities thrive.
Conservative transport councilor Kevin Buck said he was considering the idea amid calls for the city to revive its failed park-and-ride scheme.
A park-and-ride was trialled in Southend in 2017, but passenger numbers were low and the idea was shelved.
Now there are renewed calls for a reconsideration, with Mr Buck saying park and rail is being considered to bring more passengers to rail services outside the city.
Matt Dent, Labor councilor for Kursaal ward, told the siting committee he wanted the park-and-ride scheme considered.
Mr Dent said at the meeting: “I think bus transportation needs to be improved as a city to further stimulate the local economy.
“I recognize it is a picture-in-the-wall to some extent, and it is something we have all longed for for a long time, but perhaps some kind of park-and-ride facility based in Rochford could be used with neighboring residents. Together, we can enable people to participate, by car and the rest by public transport, which is reliable, cheap, easy and ideally environmentally friendly. ”
In response, Mr. Buck appears to have ruled out that suggestion. He said: “Park and ride plans for Southend have been constantly discussed over the years. Several plans have been attempted in the past but have failed and been found to be unworkable.
“I would love to see a park and ride scheme in Southend, but we are constrained by a number of determining factors.”
Mr Buck said there were several obstacles to Southend successfully implementing such a plan.
He said: “The main challenges we face are the availability of land on the edges of the city to create the large scale parking required outside the city and the existing well-used “It’s about reallocating roadway space to bus-only lanes.” “
Buck added: “There are no immediate or obvious solutions to overcome these challenges, and there are alternatives, such as park-and-rail that could bring more passengers onto rail lines on the edge of cities and use wells. We are looking for a way,” he added. – Connected rail services to the city center instead. ”
Park and rail schemes have also been introduced in other countries such as Belgium and New Zealand.