County leaders have said they are putting “their money where their mouth is” after announcing that transport projects in Colchester have been given a £25million boost.

Essex County Council has been awarded £17.9m from the Local Growth Fund after its investment plans were approved by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) – and has added £7m of its own cash to the projects.

The funding is expected to be announced today.

It is hoped the spending will achieve a dual aim of reducing congestion and driving up economic growth within the town.

Rodney Bass, county councillor for highways and transportation, said: “We are committed to driving up economic growth in this historic town, as well as the wider borough of Colchester.

“These investments represent the county council putting its money where its mouth is and investing in the transport infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve traffic management.

“It is vital we do this if we are to see sustained economic growth in Colchester.”

The funding will be spent in three different areas, with £5.9m of the grant being used to reimburse the authority’s forward funding for the park and ride project.

A total of £10m will be spent in the Colchester Integrated Transport Package, with £5m for town centre schemes to reduce congestion such as improvements to the Colne Bank Avenue roundabout, with a further £5m from the Local Growth Fund and £7m from the county council going to replace infrastructure borough-wide.

Another £2m has been given to the Colchester Local Sustainable Transport Programme, which will deliver improved pedestrian and cycling facilities connecting new housing with the town centre and Colchester station.

The announcement came the day after it was revealed MPs want the authority to lead work on improving the A120 between Braintree and the town.

The county council also announced yesterday that a previously planned £5m scheme to improve roads and drainage around Jaywick will begin early next month.

Work will be carried out over two years.