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Plans for major Lancashire transport overhaul announced

A plan to transform transport in West Lancashire features a number of changes following a consultation between Lancashire County Council and local residents.

The county council is producing a set of five Highways and Transport Masterplans to cover all 12 districts of Lancashire and, where necessary, neighbouring areas, to begin to make the case for multi-million pound investments in transport infrastructure needed to support future housing and business development.Â

The plan for West Lancashire sets out options for major improvements to railways, highways, public transport, and walking and cycling facilities.

A ten-week consultation started in December 2013 with a series of events held across the area to allow members of the public and local organisations such as parish councils to contribute.Â

Many responses to the consultation endorsed the county council’s preferred options, including proposals to link Skelmersdale to the rail network, and measures to encourage walking and cycling.Â

However the final version published today also features a number of changes as a result of comments and suggestions. They include:Â

A ‘movement strategy’ for Ormskirk will focus on measures to reduce traffic, especially in the town centre, and to improve how the remaining traffic is managed. It will provide the opportunity to fundamentally review how traffic is managed.Â

Build a new railway station in Skelmersdale, linking the town to the rail network and improving links to Manchester and Liverpool. Develop a bus interchange linked to the railway station.Â

Transform the way people in Skelmersdale travel by redesigning roads, removing underpasses and making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport within the town, to give people wider access to job opportunities.Â

Further work will now take place to make the business case for improvements, ensuring the county council is ready to capitalise on future opportunities to secure funding.Â

The approach builds on that used to secure major investment in central Lancashire through the Preston City Deal, which won support from government and the development industry by showing the potential for economic growth achieved via long term improvements to transport infrastructure.Â

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “West Lancashire has a character all of its own and a diverse economy including agriculture, horticulture, higher education and transport logistics with a high potential for innovation across a whole host of business sectors.Â

“The transport network works well on the whole but there are also some significant problems to be overcome to ensure we can attract jobs and investment in a way that is appropriate to the district’s character and heritage.Â

“Skelmersdale needs a rail connection, while Ormskirk has a road network that should be able to cope, but urgently needs extra work to do so. Burscough needs greater connectivity by rail to remove traffic from its roads. There is also clear demand in the district as a whole for improved networks for cycling and walking.Â

“The consultation confirmed that much of what we thought West Lancashire needs is supported by those who live and work here, but we have learnt from comments and suggestions, both positive and negative, with the final version of the masterplan being stronger as a result.Â

“We have decided not to pursue the Ormskirk bypass because it does not contribute strongly to the economic case for change required by government for funding. The bypass has been a longstanding contentious issue in the area, with very little being done to tackle the traffic problem within the town as the bypass was considered the answer which no one has delivered.Â

“We believe that moving forward and delivering is far better than sitting back and waiting. This plan is all about delivering the transport network that the people of West Lancashire want, need, and deserve.“Â

You can see the Highways and Transport Masterplan for West Lancashire at www.lancashire.gov.uk – search for ‘transport masterplan’.

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