Council sets future vision for transport

Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee has approved a new Local Transport Plan (LTP), which sets out a vision for how people could travel around the borough in the future, and will be used to prioritise transport investment.

The new plan provides a refreshed strategic direction shaped by today’s transport challenges, which meets the needs of local communities.

Insights and experiences from residents, businesses, and partners who engaged with us throughout the consultation process last year, have helped shape a strategy that reflects the needs of our communities. The vision of the new LTP  is for a  well-connected, safe, sustainable transport network, accessible to all, that supports a healthy, prosperous Cheshire East. 

It is underpinned by four key aims: growing the economy through better connectivity; improving health, wellbeing and inclusion; reducing environmental impacts and improving connections for all to reduce reliance on private cars.

The new  LTP will help Cheshire East feed into the new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) and future investment programmes.

The new  CWCA will be developing a region-wide transport plan – this will be a fresh start to design a transport network around the needs of residents and businesses. 

The Combined Authority will provide an opportunity to join up communities in Cheshire East with the rest of Cheshire and Warrington, to create a coherent transport network within and across Cheshire as a whole and building better links to Greater Manchester and Liverpool. It will also unlock additional devolved powers and long term funding opportunities across transport, housing, skills and economic growth.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said:

“This Local Transport Plan sets out an ambitious but realistic vision for how people will move around Cheshire East in the future. It reflects the challenges our residents face today, but also the opportunities we have to build a healthier, more inclusive and better connected borough.

“By taking an evidence led approach, we can make sure future investment goes where it will make the greatest difference for our communities. This plan puts us in a strong position for the coming years, especially as we work with our partners in the new Combined Authority to secure the transport improvements our borough needs.”

The committee decision made last week means the LTP will now progress to full council for adoption in May.