The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is currently running another consultation on its draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) which closes this coming Sunday, 22nd February.
As with previous iterations of this plan, responding to this is REALLY important, so we’re encouraging everyone to do this.
This time, they’re consulting on their proposed Delivery Plan.
- To access and read the plan itself, click here
- To get stuck in and head straight to the questions, click here
What is the Local Transport Plan? A little reminder…
The Local Transport Plan (LTP) is a statutory document, starting with a clear vision and goals, which will help deliver the transport ambitions of the Mayor and the Combined Authority.
There are two parts to the LTP:
- The Local Transport Plan – This is the policy document that sets a vision for transport in the Liverpool City Region until 2040.
- The Draft Local Transport Delivery Plan 2025 to 2040 – In other words, what the Combined Authority proposes to deliver.
The Delivery Plan is divided into three main sections related to funding phases:
- Current – until March 2027
- Imminent – between April 2027 and March 2032
- Future vision for transport delivery – from April 2032 to March 2040
Is it worth my time responding to it?
100% YES!!
The principles and goals of the LTP are fantastic and set out a path to a better Liverpool City Region, to be achieved through better transport decisions.
By getting involved in this process, you are adding to all the good work that’s already gone into this process, so please take the time to respond.
AND, this is your last chance to contribute before the LTP is formally approved this year.
Why is it relevant?
It is no exaggeration to say that future decisions around port access – which may or may not impact Rimrose Valley – are likely to be made regionally, at the City Region level, not in Westminster or Whitehall, by the Department for Transport.
As a citizen of the Liverpool City Region, this is YOUR opportunity to express your views on how future transport decisions should be made.
Isn’t it just about people and public transport?
In a word, ‘NO’.
The LCRCA’s vision is for: “Clean, safe and accessible transport for moving people and goods.”
The critical part here is obviously “goods”.
With Liverpool being a port city which generates so many HGV movements in South Sefton and adjoining boroughs, the new Local Transport Plan must come up with a way of addressing the challenges this presents in a sensible and sustainable manner.
This latest consultation gives ius the opportunity to hammer this point home.
How long does it take to respond?
Unlike previous consultations, this is really focussed and will only take around 15 minutes of your time… unless you choose to read through the plan itself.
However, this is time well spent, so please get involved!
Ideas for responses…
We all know that without a proper plan for moving freight in and out of the Port of Liverpool, living conditions along its access routes will continue to deteriorate and there will always be a cloud hanging over Rimrose Valley, with the risk that a road proposal will make a return someday.
Our responses to this consultation therefore approach it from this perspective.
However, please use these as a guide only and use your own wording when responding.
READY? CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.
- “Current draft Delivery Plan”
This page if for information purposes only, as it is not being consulted on.
- “Imminent Delivery Priorities (2027-2032)”
Have a look at the map and the list of proposals and you will notice the following initiatives, among others, for our part of south Sefton:
- Plans for a new Rimrose Valley > Crosby Village active travel route
- The next phases of the Maritime Corridor project (A5036 and selected junctions)
Question: Do you agree the vision for the draft Delivery Plan 2027 to 2032 across the city region above is ambitious enough?
Our Response: Disagree (explanation below)
Question: Is there anything else we may have missed?
We agree with the vast majority of the Delivery Plan. However given the cancellation of the A5036 Port of Liverpool Access project in October 2024 – a decision we absolutely support – we had expected to see much more being done during this “imminent” phase to alleviate the impact of freight movements through our city region. The Transport Delivery Plan contains just 7 mentions of the word ‘freight’ and none in this “imminent” phase. The last round of consultation on the LTP itself placed great emphasis on the importance of moving freight sustainably. This has become even more important since the road’s cancellation and we wish to see more being done on this in the short-to-medium term. The Delivery Plan in its current form suggests nothing is to be done on this until 2032, at the earliest.
Question: Do you wish to comment on draft schemes to be delivered by any of our local councils: Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens or Wirral?
Yes, choose Sefton
Question: Across Sefton, do you agree these are the right draft delivery priorities to focus on between 2027 to 2032?
Our Response: Disagree (explanation below)
Question: Is there anything else we may have missed for Sefton?
Our Response
Whilst we will always support active travel schemes in our part of South Sefton, we had expected to see more being done to alleviate the impact of freight movements through our communities. Specifically, the A5036 and busy, adjoining roads. Living conditions alongside these busy routes, including air, noise, light and vibration pollution require urgent attention. Achieving a modal shift from car to active travel is a step in the right direction but it does not address the impact of freight movements in and out of the port here and now. Freight traffic is the biggest contributor to the above problems, so we would like to see measures in the “imminent” phase of this Delivery Plan which acknowledge this. There is no mention of freight at all.
Question: Would you like to select another local council scheme to look at? (if you would like to comment on more than one you will have multiple chances to pick another)
No, continue with survey
- “Our future vision for transport (2032-2040)”
Question: Do you agree that the future draft vision 2032 to 2040 provides an ambitious enough approach for transport in the city region?
Our Response: Disagree (explanation below)
Question: Detailed Design Schemes: Which do you think are the most important?
This section of the consultation isn’t laid out very well. It looks like you are grading each of the 12 options from 1 to 5, but instead, you only get to choose 5 from the list.
These are the options we chose are our priorities:
- Incorporate environmental improvements such as biodiversity and nature recovery.
- Consider any traffic implications in neighbouring areas to proposed schemes and ensure there are measures in place to lessen the impact.
- Take a pro-active approach to ensure schemes are future proofed by taking into account likely demographic changes, technology changes and climate change.
- Use clear reliable evidence and data to guide and inform the design process.
- Take into account best practice and learn from past projects to guide and inform the design process.
Question: Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
The last round of consultation on the LTP itself placed great emphasis on the importance of moving freight sustainably, yet the Delivery Plan in its current form suggests nothing is to be done on this until this “Future” phase i.e. 2032 at the earliest. It is encouraging to see that there are plans to use Northern Powerhouse Rail (proposed Liverpool-Manchester line) and the LCRCA’s Freeport status to increase rail capacity and rail freight capability, but there is no mention of exploring other, new technologies to moving freight, or even greater use of the River Mersey. Section 5.2.10 acknowledges that the movement of freight is a barrier to being able to deliver the LTP’s aims. As such, we don’t understand why more work isn’t being done on this in either the “imminent” or “future” phases? We are concerned that, without delivering a solution to moving freight in and out of the Port of Liverpool in a more sustainable manner, no amount of active travel or public transport investment will significantly change the nature of the traffic on our roads. HGVs moving containerised and non-containerised freight are a blight on our communities and environment. As such, we believe that solving this problem should be one of the first priorities for both the LCRCA and Sefton – and be a major part of this Delivery Plan. Our biggest concern is that, without any significant work being done to address this, the continued reliance on road and HGVs will mean that Rimrose Valley Country Park will remain an easy target for any future road proposals under this, or future governments. Section 5.3 states that “the priority during the short and medium term will be on testing options, and undertaking feasibility work”. We would like to see detailed actions listed in this Delivery Plan in relation to plans for the movement of freight, and port access in general.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this consultation – let’s keep working together to protect Rimrose Valley AND get a better solution for the challenges port access presents for our communities, and our environment.