A £400,000 cash boost is set to be used to combat crime and increase the police presence on the streets of Colchester.

Colchester Council bosses have announced a two-year action plan aimed squarely at making Colchester a more attractive place to live, work and visit.

The plans include taking back control of highways maintenance across the borough from Essex County Council.

In total, about £2 million has been set aside to deliver the proposals over the next two years.

Of this, £550,000 would be ploughed into improving the borough’s infrastructure to allow for a closer relationship with the county council and public transport operators through a new body titled Transport for Colchester.

Part of this would involve taking back control of pothole and footpath repair from county hall.

Some £400,000 will be used to work closely with the police to make the town safer and increase the presence on the streets.

Another £750,000 will be invested in keeping Colchester town centre clean and promoting the borough’s heritage and attractions.

The cash will come from New Homes Bonus money, from central Government, some business rates pool funding and the council reserves.

The plans are in an early stage and will be discussed at a meeting of Colchester Council’s cabinet next Wednesday.

Mark Cory, leader of the council, said: “Listening to residents, it is clear people want better roads and transport, for our town centre to be a clean and welcoming environment, and for us to make the most of the great heritage we have.

“People also want to feel even safer while enjoying everything our town has to offer at any time of the day.

“This, and more, is what we are seeking to do with our ambitious proposals.”

The senior Lib Dem added: “A key part of the plans is for the council, councillors, residents and other organisations to work closely together to deliver our ambitions.”

“If agreed at cabinet we will be seeking to drive these proposals forward as quickly as possible and we will be able to announce more on these in the coming weeks.”

Other aspects of the plan include creating a cross-party heritage and tourism group, and forming a new policy and public initiatives panel to enable the public to bring forward ideas to help enhance the borough.

The council also hope to encourage businesses to expand to Colchester and work quickly to reduce homelessness.

Darius Laws, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: “The fact the council is going to invest more in town centre heritage is to be welcomed, but it is a complete vindication of what the Conservatives have been saying for a number of years.

“We has put forward an amendment to the last budget and said this is what we want to do. In terms of funding for transport in Colchester I will be very interested to see the detail around that.”