Decision details

Following a consultation on the Highways and Transport Masterplan, approval is now sought from the County Council's Cabinet to adopt the Masterplan. The finalised plan has been arrived at as a result of a public stakeholder consultation which took place between October and December 2013. Consultation took place with County and District Councillors, and meetings were also held with business leaders to seek their feedback. The draft Plan was made available to the public on the County Council's website and copies were available for inspection in libraries and other public buildings, with residents invited to submit a questionnaire giving their views on the proposals.

The East Lancashire Highways and Transport Masterplan was considered by the Committee, one of a number of similar masterplans that would cover the whole county. It was noted that the East Lancashire Masterplan was a joint plan with Blackburn with Darwen, and was aimed at securing and setting out the priorities for the Highways and transport infrastructure in the east of the county.

In developing the plan, an extensive process of consultation and engagement had been undertaken, which highlighted the need for the plan to address connectivity within east Lancashire as well as with neighbouring areas. The consultation process also highlighted the need to include more on sustainable transport and to incorporate the suggestions of an East Lancashire railway to be included in the full M66 corridor gateway study.

The proposals for the A56 Colne to Foulridge Bypass were reported as having received a wide and varied response, with businesses and stakeholders expressing strong support for the "Brown route", but with responses from the public being more mixed. More detailed work was therefore proposed on all possible routes and to consider capacity along the North Valley.

Resolved: That the recommendations to be presented to the Cabinet be confirmed without amendment or modification.