A resident has blasted council proposals to replace the Braintree to Witham railway line with a tram or busway.

The creation of a “rapid transit system” is just one of several options being discussed to improve the public transport network in the district in conjunction with the development of the North Essex Garden Communities.

The system would work similarly to the Cambridge to St Ives guided busway in Cambridgeshire, but David Edwards, of Braintree, said he was “appalled” by the idea.

“The former railway between Cambridge and St Ives was virtually there to be re-opened for the sum of less than £50 million,” he said.

“However, the powers that be thought it a better idea to spend in the region of £200 million to put in a very unreliable guided busway.

“This is mainly owing to the concrete base persistently cracking up.”

In August, Cambridgeshire County Council announced it was set to sue its contractors over a £36.5 million repair bill on the busway.

Mr Edwards has instead called for the Cressing Loop to be examined as a solution to the district’s train woes, saying you could put in “about 16” loops for the price of converting the line to a busway.

Lynette Bowers-Flint, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing, said: “The great thing about the potential of Garden Communities is that it will give us the chance to look at some innovative and exciting modern modes of transport.

"Part of the challenge is looking at how people will move around in the future and the rapid transit system is just one of many ideas that is being looked into. ”