SWINDON is on the road to being a park and ride haven after councillors last night voted in favour of plans for a third scheme in the borough.

The £2.5m Commonhead park and ride project will open next year between the Commonhead roundabout and the Great Western Hospital.

At last night's cabinet meeting, the plans which the Evening Advertiser revealed earlier this week were approved by councillors.

Coun Jemima Milton, lead member for transport and environmental services, believes the increasing success of existing schemes in Wroughton and The Copse are proof enough that the town now needs a third.

"It's a very exciting scheme and something we need to deliver," said Coun Milton (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon).

"It is a main priority for the council and we want it up and running by next year."

It will be aimed at drivers coming from the south east of the town, including Marlborough, junction 15 of the M4, Aldbourne and Wanborough.

Cabinet members voted in favour of allocating £900,000 of this year's budget towards initial work on the scheme as part of the local transport plan capital programme.

Subject to detailed planning permission being granted, the area will be resurfaced and landscaped, new roads will be laid and a bus shelter built.

It is hoped the third scheme will encourage more people to leave their cars in a free, secure parking area and catch the bus into the town centre for £2.

There will be also be discounted weekly tickets as there are on the two existing schemes.

However, concerns were raised at last night's meeting about the knock-on effects a third park and ride could have for town centre parking.

Councillor Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said: "I certainly support proposals for the third scheme but I do think we need to look at the longer term impact this may have on parking in the town centre."

Leader of the council Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) echoed his views.

He said: "I am totally supportive of park and ride systems and I have never said I am against them.

"But it's pretty obvious that if you put cheaper car parking on the edge of town it will have a knock-on effect on the town centre car parks.

"If we're not careful we may end up having to look again at town centre parking costs, which isn't in the interest of the taxpayer."

Councillors voted in favour of council officers looking at such knock-on effects and reporting back to cabinet when they meet again next month.

The council wants the Commonhead park and ride system to save costs by taking advantage of the existing shuttle bus service operating from the hospital.

It is claimed most park and ride projects cost councils around £500,000 to subsidise, but Swindon Council have been informed the Commonhead project will not require any form of subsidy.

Labour leader Councillor Kevin Small (Lab, Western) last night applauded the arrival of a third park and ride system.

He said: "I welcome the Commonhead park and ride scheme and am glad to see the Tories backing it."