The new Chelmer Valley Park and Ride will officially open on Monday 4 April 2011.

The service will provide comfortable and convenient transport into Chelmsford for residents and visitors. Stops will be located at the following key locations in the town centre:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Railway Station
• Job Centre
• Victoria Road South

The Chelmer Valley terminal is located on the A130 Essex Regiment Way at Pratts Farm Roundabout, and will be operated by Chelmsford Borough Council and First Essex Buses Ltd.

It will provide:

• Secure parking for 700 vehicles (with land available to expand)
• A high quality terminus building
• Direct access from existing highway
• Covered cycle parking access for 20 bikes

The service will run Monday to Saturday, with buses leaving the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site from 7am to 8.50pm.

Chelmer Valley will build on the success of the first Chelmsford Park and Ride site in Sandon, which has been expanded three times since it opened in March 2006, and is used by 300,000 people annually.

Councillor Ian Grundy, Chelmsford Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Safer Communities said: "Chelmsford Borough Council is very pleased to continue providing its full support to this scheme, which is a valuable asset to both local residents and visitors to Chelmsford. Our partnership working with both Essex County Council and First Bus has lead to a reliable and cost effective service enjoyed by all of our customers.

"We are particularly keen to encourage students and staff from the nearby university to utilise this service, relieving traffic congestion during peak times as commuters enter the town limits from the north."

Alan Pilbeam, Managing Director for First East England says: "We are delighted to be given the opportunity to continue with operating the Park and Ride service in Sandon and now in Chelmer Valley.

"This is good news for public transport in Essex and another example of how First East England is working with ECC to make public transport a realistic alternative to the private car for some journeys."

Simon Chubb, Environment Manager for Anglia Ruskin University said: "We are committed to the promotion of sustainable travel options as part of our environmental policy, and are proud to have received a Gold Award for our travel plan from Essex County Council. Anglia Ruskin University has invested approximately £1.5 million so far in redeveloping our campus to ensure the Park and Ride buses can travel through, with a further £500,000 of work scheduled for summer this year. We have worked very closely with Essex County Council in planning arrangements for the new service, and look forward to benefiting from it once it is launched".