Talks are on-going over plans for a shuttle service linking Colchester and Stansted Airport.

Discussions are being held between Stansted Airport’s owners, Manchester Airport Group, and Essex County Council regarding the possibility of introducing a service linking the town’s Park and Ride and the airport.

Although the airport believes the opening hours of the Park and Ride, which is just off the A12 in Cuckoo Farm Way, may prove to be a sticking point, a spokesman said it was committed to finding a solution.

He added: “Through the work of the Stansted Airport Transport Forum we have been in discussions with bus operators and Essex County Council on the development of a service that could potentially utilise the Park and Ride in Colchester.

“This approach fits with our overall strategy to reduce the number of vehicles coming to the airport to drop off passengers and build on our UK-leading track record of more passengers accessing the airport via public transport than any other major airport.

“However, the opening hours of the Park and Ride would need to be resolved to be more in line with passenger demand.”

Essex County Council said it was committed to finding a solution.

A spokesman said: “The service impacts of running a Colchester to Stansted Airport service which included stopping at the park and ride is one of the issues we are working to understanding.”

Martin Goss, councillor responsible for waste, sustainability and infrastructure, said any service would be widely welcomed by residents.

He added: “Anything to get more people out of their cars and onto comfortable and sustainable modes of transport should be welcomed.

“A lot of people would use it if the times were convenient and they were able to leave their cars at the Park and Ride safely.”

In December 2017, a number of changes to Colchester’s Park and Ride were announced in a bid to attract more passengers to the service.

From August, the site’s opening hours were extended to 5.30am to 9pm and group saver tickets were introduced.

Since then, passenger numbers have increased by an average of 8.7 per cent, when compared with figures from 2017.

October saw the biggest rise, with 22,875 vehicles using the site compared to 19,926 in the same period last year, an increase of 14.8 per cent.

November was the Park and Ride’s busiest month ever, with 24,485 vehicles visiting the facility, a increase from 22,480 for the same period last year.

This works out to a rise of 8.9 per cent.

September saw the slowest growth since the new hours were introduced with only a 3.3 per cent increase on the year before, with 18,964 parking at Colchester Park and Ride, an increase of 3.3 per cent compared to September 2017.