PEOPLE have until the end of the year to tell Cheshire West and Chester Council what they want to see in the borough’s new transport plan.
The consultation, aimed at giving residents their say, closes on Friday, December 31.
The plan will guide the borough’s transport priorities for the next 15 years.
Transport specialists at the council say: “This is an issue for everybody. Transport helps to support economic growth and regeneration, increases accessibility to jobs and everyday services, improves the environment and helps to tackle poverty. The opportunities available to people in how, when and where they travel have a major impact on transport patterns.”
They say their top priorities are supporting West Cheshire’s economy, tackling climate change, reversing the decline in the state of the borough’s roads, improving safety, security and health, access to jobs and employment and quality of life.
On the economy, options include tackling congestion, supporting regeneration and new housing, improvements to parking management and enforcement and improving transport links to neighbouring areas .
The council insists climate change is recognised as posing a major threat to the borough’s environment, economic performance and way of life.
Reversing the decline in road standards is said to be a top priority while the council says it can contribute to better health and life expectancy by reducing the risk of death, injury or illness arising from transport.
Improving accessibility to jobs and services can help people not to be solely reliant on the car to reach them while transport can make a major contribution to improving the quality of peoples’ lives.
The council says that apart from an on line consultation, it has been arranging meetings, workshops and special events with a large number of organisations and community groups to try to make sure that everybody who has a view about transport has had the chance to have their voice heard.
Views will help the council finalise its strategy and priorities which will come into effect in April 2011.
People can also contact the local transport plan team at Backford Hall on 0300 123 7036 or can email ltp@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
