HIGHWAY chiefs have admitted that nothing will stop people using their car - despite plans to encourage the use of alternative transport in and around Yeovil.

The £3-million set of proposed measures to improve Yeovil's traffic problems were unveiled last week and there were aims to improve bus links, increase cycle paths and make people think more about the healthy results of actually walking to and from work or school.

But Somerset County Council's portfolio holder for transport, Cllr Tim Carroll, said: "The car is always going to be the preferred form of transport."

The council's transport studies manager, Jeremy Callard, told members of Yeovil Chamber of Trade on Thursday that they would look to improve facilities for pedestrians by having more crossings at the busy Preston Road and Larkhill junction and on Bunford Lane close to the Asda supermarket store.

And he said: "If we are going to make a big impression on cutting down traffic congestion then walking has to be an important aspect of things."

Cycling also makes an essential part of the plans and there are proposals to complete the cycle route from Lysander Road to the bottom of Hendford Hill, create a cycleway from Lyde Road to the town centre, an off-road alternative for cyclists using Preston Road and Preston Grove, and form a cycle route connecting Larkhill Road with Stiby Road and Glenthorne Avenue.

There are also scheduled to be cycle crossings at the bottom of Hendford Hill and at Bunford Lane and cycling priorities provided at the Lyde Road and Sherborne Road junction and at the Fiveways roundabout.

But Mr Callard has said that any plans to implement a park and ride scheme in the town have been shelved.

He and officers had investigated the possibility of a scheme with a route from Bunford Lane to Babylon Hill via Yeovil bus station at a cost of £1.50 per passenger.

But Mr Callard said: "None of the tests we carried out would cover operating costs and we found losses in excess of £100,000 per year.

"In all scenarios the demand for park and ride will not provide enough revenue to cover the cost of the service.

"This means that the operation of park and ride will require a very substantial subsidy and therefore it will not be pursued at this time."

But they are more positive about making improved changes to the controversial Sherborne Road and Reckleford gyratory system - the scene of much traffic congestion during the day.

Officers have decided to make changes to the junctions and road layouts by using extra space in the area although they admit they still have to discuss it with landowners.