A PARK and ride scheme is being planned for Middlesbrough in an attempt to cut down on traffic congestion.

A report to Middlesbrough Council, to be discussed on Tuesday, confirmed it had been looking at the scheme and has found a possible site.

Commuters from Stokesley, Guisborough and East Cleveland are expected to benefit as buses will go from near to the Poole roundabout, Nunthorpe.

It said: "The Council has been exploring the potential for a park and ride facility in various locations across the town, as a means of reducing congestion and improving accessibility and rail patronage.

"A site has currently been identified in the south of the town, bordering with Redcar & Cleveland."

It said extra work needed to be done with partners to see if the council could work the scheme as part of a joint venture.

Rush-hour congestion on Marton Road and Acklam Road is increasing, with residents fearing extra housing developments in Nunthorpe and Acklam could add to the problem.

There are currently 25,000 vehicle movements a day down Marton Road alone, although some of these turn off down the Parkway before they reach Middlesbrough.

The Park & Ride scheme is planned for the Nunthorpe side of town. The site is believed to be on land close to the Poole roundabout, so could serve commuters travelling in from the East Cleveland, Stokesley and Guisborough areas, reducing Marton Road congestion.

Marton East councillor Tom Mawston said: "It is early days but it also depends on the co-operation of Redcar & Cleveland Council.

"I look forward to the park and ride system but it has to be one which is a direct route into Middlesbrough otherwise there is no point. It has to be a good quality service."

A bypass is also planned for Marton Road, but it will only run along part of it, as Redcar & Cleveland Council has allowed a housing development to go ahead on land earmarked for the bypass on the Ormesby side.

The report to Middlesbrough council also discusses improving rail links to Middlesbrough, including lobbying the Department for Transport over maintaining the Trans-Pennine route from the town to Leeds and Manchester. The franchise for that route, and the Northern franchise, which includes services from Newcastle to Whitby and Darlington to Saltburn, are up for renewal, with preferred bidders to be announced next month.

There were few details about the park and ride scheme released in the report, which is due to be discussed by Middlesbrough Council's executive on Tuesday (December 1).