Local Transport Plan

Local Transport Plan (LTP)

In April 2011, Wirral Council, along with Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St.Helens Councils and Merseytravel jointly submitted the third Merseyside Local Transport Plan (LTP) to Central Government. The LTP covers the period 2011 to 2024 and builds upon the transport strategy introduced in the second LTP.

The current LTP describes the approach being taken to improve the transport choices for everyone in the area, and aims to provide 'A city region committed to a low carbon future, which has a transport network and mobility culture that positively contributes to a thriving economy and the health and wellbeing of its citizens and where sustainable travel is the option of choice'.

The Local Transport Plan has six goals:

• One - Help create the right conditions for sustainable economic growth by supporting the priorities of the Liverpool City Region, the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Local Strategic Partnerships.

• Two - Provide and promote a clean, low emission transport system which is resilient to changes to climate and oil availability.

• Three - Ensure the transport system promotes and enables improved health and wellbeing and road safety.

• Four - Ensure equality of travel opportunity for all, through a transport system that allows people to connect easily with employment, education, healthcare, other essential services and leisure and recreational opportunities.

• Five - Ensure the transport network supports the economic success of the city region by the efficient movement of people and goods.

• Six - Maintain our assets to a high standard.

The Merseyside Transport Partnership website provides further details and downloads for the Merseyside Local Transport Plan.

Wirral Council sets an annual programme of works to implement schemes aimed at improving conditions for motorists, public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians in the Borough.

Transport and Developments

The increased demand for travel created by new development and regeneration provides us with a significant challenge. We need to ensure that people can travel without too much difficulty to get to jobs, services and education etc whilst managing the growth in cars that is often a result of new developments.  Traffic management and improvements to encourage people to make journeys by alternative modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling and walking, are key to ensuring our roads do not get too congested and problematic.

The LTP partners have developed a Supplementary Planning Document “Ensuring Choice of Travel” to help developers support the aims of the LTP, particularly those relating to the provision and use of sustainable modes of transport such as public transport, walking and cycling. Wirral has already approved the car parking element of the SPD and is planning to introduce the other elements once Wirral’s forthcoming Local Development Framework (LDF) has been adopted.