Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet consider new Local Transport Plan

Today, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet considered its new Local Transport Plan.

Local Transport Plans are statutory borough-wide strategies setting out a vision, policies and a delivery programme for passenger and freight transport. The Plans are linked to future government funding allocations for both strategic transport and highways maintenance activities.

The Council’s Cabinet discussed the requirements for a new Local Transport Plan 4 that will need to be considerably different to those which came before it. The Government is placing increased importance on ambitious and transformational Local Transport Plans.

Guidance from the Department for Transport will be available later this year, early indications are that the government will expect the Plan to reflect the changing trends of how people access work, education, and services, as well as how goods are transported and delivered. The Plan will be focussed on economic growth, regeneration, reducing social exclusion and addressing climate challenges, setting out a compelling case for change.

The Council’s current Local Transport Plan was initially adopted in 2011.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member - Environment, Highways & Strategic Transport said: “The draft Local Transport Plan will be presented to Cabinet for approval in Spring 2024 following extensive local consultation with residents and partners the final Plan will be presented to Council for adoption in late 2024/25.

“Our current Local Transport Plan was refreshed in 2017, the core drivers are now over a decade old. The plan is out of step with significant local, regional and national developments, including the declaration of climate and poverty emergencies, adoption of a suite of new strategies, and the emergence of regional bodies such as the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and Transport for the North. Inclusive accessibility is high on the national agenda and transport is also key to supporting economic recovery from the pandemic. The Council’s strategic approach to transport needs to change to reflect these priorities.”

The first stage to be completed in Autumn 2023 will include a draft vision and objectives following stakeholder engagement, sampling public opinion and a technical review of transport modelling capabilities.

There will be public consultation in stage 2 about the draft vision and objectives.  Following any amendments based on feedback, the final vision and objectives will be presented to Cabinet for adoption in early 2024 and the final Plan completed in late 2024/25.