CUTTING back household and kerbside parking on new estates could reduce the number of cars on roads, garden communities bosses have claimed.

Colchester, Braintree, Tendring and Essex councils have produced a series of reportes to show how “garden communities” will work.

A “movement and access strategy” encourages 40 per cent of trips between garden communities to be completed by walking or cycling.

The remainder will be split equally between public transport and private cars.

For shorter journeys within the communities the targets are more ambitious with hopes 62 per cent of trips will be through walking and cycling and just 19 per cent of people using public transport or cars.

The 2011 Census shows the most up-to-date figures for how people are travelling through Braintree, Colchester and Marks Tey:

  • Braintree - 14 per cent walking and cycling; 11 per cent public transport; 74 per cent car; 1.6 per cent other mode
  • Marks Tey - 7 per cent walking and cycling; 13 per cent public transport; 78 per cent car; 2 per cent other
  • Colchester - 21 per cent walking and cycling; 16 per cent public transport; 61 per cent car; 1 per cent other

The report looks at what techniques have worked in other countries to reduce cars.

Suggestions include creating more employment land so residents will not have to travel to work, creating less parking spaces in residential areas and providing more direct buses.

It suggests removing the physical space for cars by creating more pedestrianised areas or avoiding underpasses and flyovers.

Banning household and kerbside parking on new estates in favour of car parks further away is suggested, the idea being having to walk further to a car makes drivers less likely to use it.

The report said: “As recognised in work as part of the NHS Healthy New Towns Programme, the design of the urban environment can encourage active travel.

“A key part of this is limiting access of cars and the volume and speed of vehicles in public squares. Higher density development should be encouraged as this delivers multiple benefits in terms putting jobs, services and day-to-day needs within walking and cycling distance.”

West Tey, between Colchester and Braintree, could have up to 24,000 homes and the Tendring/Colchester new town up to 9,000 homes in the next 50 years.