A report to Maldon district councillors confirms that the results of the public consultation on widening High Street pavements and prioritising people over cars was "positive" - with the majority of people who responded supporting both measures.

Councillors will be asked to make comment and vote on accepting the report's recommendations.

The public consultation on the High Street took place between 5 October and 16 November 2020.

The document, prepared for presentation to councillors at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, 23 February, reads:

"The headlines from the consultation are:

-Majority would like improvements to the High Street and support a pavement widening scheme;

-Majority would like to see the High Street prioritised for people."

The report recommends that council members "note the significant work that has been undertaken and to note that this work will now be taken forward as part of business as usual and with the already agreed policies within the Local Development Plan (LDP)".

With regard to the High Street, the LDP includes "provision for a permanent high quality town centre market" and, for the Lower High Street, to "explore the feasibility of a street market and/or promotion of a local food and drink quarter".

There is also an LDP plan to "investigate the feasibility" of a park and ride facility between the "leisure quarter" (the Promenade Park area) and the town centre to improve connectivity.

The report to next Tuesday's council meeting also mentions seeking funds from Essex County Council for the High Street improvement scheme and "reconnecting Maldon as a main settlement" to the national rail service at Witham.

The report reads: "The short, direct connection between Maldon and Witham could remove commuter vehicles from the road network, address anti-social parking in neighbouring settlements to access rail services in Hatfield Peverel and Witham, reduce congestion on local B-roads and reduce pollution."

The potential proposal for the new "line" could be part of the Transport East Strategy to 2050, the report hints. Transport East is the sub-national transport body for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Southend and Thurrock and acts as a voice for local authorities, business leaders and partners on the region's transport investment priorities.