Cheshire West and Chester Council is preparing a new Local Transport Plan to set out our plans and strategies for improving and maintaining all aspects of our local transport system for the period 2011 to 2026. We are taking this work forward and sharing consultation activities alongside work to prepare the new Local Development Framework and Sustainable Community Strategy. By doing so, we intend to be able to better integrate our land use and transport planning activities alongside broader community aspirations.

Transport is an issue for everybody. It is a key factor in helping to support economic growth and regeneration, increasing accessibility to jobs and everyday services, improving the environment, addressing climate change and helping tackle poverty. The opportunities available to people in how, when and where they travel have a major impact on transport patterns as well as our wider quality of life.

What do you think we should do? Your comments are important to help us prepare our new strategy.
We are undertaking this preliminary consultation exercise to seek your views and ideas to help us begin to consider what our new priorities for transport should be. This will provide us with vital information and evidence to help us begin preparing the new Local Transport Plan.

What have we achieved so far?
We are currently just over half way through the current LTP2 plan period (2006 to 2011). Considerable work has been undertaken to deliver a well maintained, safer and integrated transport network for all those who live, work or visit Cheshire West and Chester. A detailed progress report for the period 2006 to 2008 has been published.

The challenges for the future?
We have already undertaken a preliminary study to understand the characteristics that make up our local area and to identify some of the main challenges that will need to be considered and addressed in the future. These include:

• dealing with increased levels of traffic growth;
• improving accessibility to employment opportunities and key services especially for those without access to a car;
• ensuring that our roads and bridges are well maintained;
• tackling climate change and reducing the level of carbon dioxide emissions from transport;
• improving and encouraging the use of more sustainable modes of transport;
• improving air quality and the environment;
• improving safety and reducing the number of casualties on our roads;
• supporting economic growth, regeneration and new development;
• improving links to neighbouring areas, particularly Liverpool, Manchester, North East Wales and Warrington; and
• dealing with the mobility needs of an ageing population

The full baseline study and a summary of the main findings can be viewed and downloaded by using this link (PDF 3mb).

Have your say!
The first stage of the public consultation on the Local Transport Plan has now closed.  For further information please contact the Local Transport Team on 0300 123 7036

What happens next?
By 13 January 2010: Consultation and meetings with key partners to help inform the development of LTP3.

• Spring 2010: Work begins to respond to the consultation exercise and prepare new draft transport policies and strategies.
• Summer 2010: A draft LTP3 document will be finalised.
• Autumn 2010: A second round of consultation will be undertaken. A provisional delivery programme for the first three years of the new LTP period will also be prepared.
• Spring 2011: The new LTP3 will be finalised and published by April 2011.

For more information please contact:
The LTP Team
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Backford Hall
Backford
Chester CH1 6EA

Telephone: 0300 123 7036
Email: ltp@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk