BORIS bikes, free Sunday parking and Nipper buses would be introduced in Colchester if the Conservatives seize power in the borough council elections.

The party has launched its manifesto in the run up to the election on May 7 which will see 20 of the 60 seats up for grabs.

It claims the council has been stagnant under the Lib Dem, Labour and Independent coalition and it proposes radical action if it takes control.

Dennis Willetts, the leader of the Conservative group on Colchester Council, said: "After eight years of stagnation, the borough of Colchester has slipped badly in most of the key areas of performance: retail, commerce, tourism and recycling.

"The Conservative Manifesto describes how we would stop the rot and finance the recovery to restore Colchester to its rightful place as the leading borough in the region."

Controversial action includes streamlining the council to reduce costs including only directly employing half the current number of people.

Mr Willetts said: "We are talking about a fresh approach, looking at different ways of working and out sourcing."

Mr Willetts and deputy leader of the group Beverly Davies said collaborations could be set up with neighbouring councils for cost efficient handling of "back room work" such as the maintenance of waste vehicles and planning administration.

Mr Willetts criticised the current coalition's strategy as being too sweeping and lacking priorities.

Mr Willetts said the Conservatives would freeze the borough council's tax levy for two years.

But he said savings and using some of the council's £16 million reserves would pay for: * free parking on Sundays; * new car parks on the periphery of the town centre; * several smaller park and ride schemes on bus routes to complement the new park and ride; * a free Nipper bus to take people from the station to the town; * Boris bikes which can be loaned free at the rail and bus stations; * reinvigorating tourism.

The Tories would also pay for a town centre manager and identified the town centre as its main priority