The new carpark site, which will link in with services on Cambridgeshire County Council's guided busway when it opens in spring 2009, will be built off Meadow Lane, to the east, and adjacent to the A1096 on Harrison Way.

Cars will access the site from the roundabout on the A1096, which also provides access to the town centre and Waitrose.

St Ives Town Mayor Cllr Ian Dobson said: "I think in the past there was a lot of criticism concerning the guided busway.

"But now that it's with us, with the clearance of the land and the starting of the park and ride works, the town council wants to see the guided bus work well and we want to play a full part in promoting it.

"There will be great benefits for St Ives in bringing new visitors and shoppers to the town and I see it as very positive."

Buses from the park and ride will travel on the guided busway to Swavesey, Longstanton, Oakington, Histon and Impington, Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge City Centre.
The journey time from the St Ives park and ride site to Cambridge Science Park will be just 17 minutes.

Edmund Nuttall Ltd, the county council's contractor for the busway project, will start to clear vegetation from the site this month and establish temporary site buildings and offices.

An ecologist will be on site to ensure nesting birds are not disturbed during the site clearance. Vegetation will be moved to stacking areas where it will be shredded, removed from the site, composted and also used as mulch on the project.

Engineers will set out pegs to show the permanent structures and car parking areas, before preparing foundations for the park and ride buildings in mid-August to early September.

The work will take place during daylight hours Monday to Friday and, when required, Saturday mornings to 1pm.