A BIG boost to buses and park and ride are emerging as key parts of the Winchester Movement Strategy.

Councillors heard about progress developing ways to cut pollution and ease congestion in the city.

The council hopes to get a £4million grant from the Local Enterprise partnership (LEP) towards the expanded park and ride on the former Vaultex site off Barfield Close, including a first floor deck to take more vehicles.

The Government is also keen to encourage use of buses and Mr Hickman said new funding sources were opening.

Andy Hickman, head of programme at the city council, told the health and environment committee that clearance of the Vaultex site had been completed and a planning application for the new parking would be submitted soon. One hundred additional spaces could be provided this year.

Mr Hickman said there was potential to develop car parks on the edge of the city and encourage drivers to walk in to the centre.

He said proposals to extend charges into Sundays and the evening in central parks would change drivers' parking habits. "The changes will encourage different parking behaviour. Winchester is a remarkably walkable city. using outer car parks and walking in is something we think is really achievable."

A public consultation on the movement strategy attracted some 1,700 responses with support for idea of encouraging more parking away from the city centre.

Another issue that needs to be tackled is freight delivery with some streets seeing 40 deliveries a day

City councillors are due to be fully briefed on the movement strategy at a meeting on March 16.

Jemma Barter, coordinator for Winchester Friends of the Earth, told the committee that she wanted to see action as the strategy was launched in 2017. She said there was too much reliance on park and ride which was still encouraging car use and not enough on traffic reduction.