Decision details

Dave Colbert accompanied by Kathryn Molloy, presented a report on Highways England's Strategic Road Network Initial Report entitled 'Shaping the Future of England's Strategic Roads'. 

The Committee was informed that the Department for Transport is consulting stakeholders on the report and the process through which it would determine whether the Initial Report was sufficiently robust. 

Highways England's Initial SRN Report comprises an informative statement of its priorities (safety, customer service and delivery) and the progress made to date.  It is proposed that investment in the SRN over the next 20 years should focus on achieving consistency around four categories of road:

·  Smart motorways (routes with the highest demand, evolving with technology);

·  Conventional motorways (in their current form);

·  Expressways (a new concept for the busiest 'A' class roads in the SRN, with better design, technology and on-road response and alternative roads for non-motorised users and slow vehicles);

·  All-purpose trunk roads (the remaining 'A' class roads in the SRN.

The Committee was advised that as part of the consultation, the DfT is seeking views on the proposed four categories and the development of Expressways.  There are ten consultation questions in all.  It was felt that the questions that would be of particular interest to the Lancashire Enterprise Board (LEP) relate to the current size of the SRN, specifically whether there are local roads that the DfT should consider including in the SRN and conversely, whether there are roads in the SRN that should be removed.  It was felt that responses to these particular questions would be best prepared alongside any response to a complementary consultation on proposals to establish a Major Road Network.

It was therefore suggested that the LEP Board may wish to submit its own response to the SRN and MRN consultations.  It was agreed that the County Council's response to the SRN consultation, which is to be considered at the Council's Cabinet meeting on 1 February 2018, should form the basis of such a response.

Resolved: That the report be noted