A PARK and Ride service will be allowed to operate in extended hours... after months of waiting.

Campaigners were concerned after the long-awaited extension of the park and ride failed to materialise.

It was due to the fact a planning application had not been submitted to extend the hours from 7am until 7pm, to 5am until 9.45pm.

Permission has now been granted to extend the hours to these times, from Monday to Friday.

No change is proposed to the Saturday hours.

The changes were made in a bid to attract more commuters to use the service.

Colchester Council had no objections, but said it was imperative that the extended service concentrates on supporting the hospital and railway station with frequent services.

They said in a report: "Furthermore, the extended hours could potentially cause additional amenity disturbance for nearby residents and any comments received by third parties that relate to these issues should be carefully considered."

Essex County Council approved the plans this week.

The report said: "It is considered seeking to improve a sustainable form of transport such as a park and ride facility and ensuring that it can operate to best meet the needs of the community it is serving follows many principles advocated within Colchester Council’s Core Strategy.

"With respect of this, and the variation as proposed, it is not considered that the increased hours of opening would give rise to significant amenity and/or environmental impacts and in context of the benefits which are realised across the three dimensions of planning through the promotion of sustainable methods of transport it is recommended that planning permission be granted."