Plans for a new park and ride service for the Ironbridge Gorge are being recommended for approval.

The service would provide 250 car-parking spaces and would transport visitors to the world-famous Iron Bridge, as well as to the museums around The Gorge and Coalbrookdale.

Plans for the scheme at Stoney Hill Field would see buses running between 9am and 6.30pm at weekends, as well as during school summer holidays.

They would also be laid on for special events and on bank holidays.

It is hoped that the scheme will encourage more people to visit the Gorge while at the same time encouraging them to make use of public transport and cutting the amount of traffic and congestion in the area.

The park and ride will also incorporate the Gorge connect service, which currently operates seasonally and at weekends and for special events.

A new pedestrian crossing will be put in across the car park entrance, and toilet facilities – including a disabled toilet block – will be erected at the site. Bus drivers will also have their own office and seating area.

The site of the car park, which is to the north of Ironbridge, is currently used as pasture field and is a former surface coal mine.

Members of the Gorge Parish Council have welcomed the plans, but have asked planners to ensure security at the car park is sufficient and that provision for evening events is made in the service timetable.

Planning officers have recommended that the plans be approved by Telford & Wrekin Council’s plans board next week.

In his report to the plans board, case officer Dave Coxill says: “This is a very sustainable scheme that will assist in relieving traffic congestion within the World Heritage Site itself, whilst maintaining tourism and local economy.”

The proposal has received only two objections from local residents who are concerned about traffic pulling out onto the busy A4169 from the car park.

However, the plans will include traffic management to reduce the amount of congestion caused by vehicles going into and out of the site.

Advice has also been taken from the police on security.

The plans board will meet on January 18 to discuss the plans.