Lancashire County Council has submitted a bid to improve the standard of transport in East Lancs, as part of the government’s levelling up strategy.
Burnley, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Pendle are all in line to benefit from schemes that aim to improve public transport, as well as making it more attractive to walk or cycle, should the council’s bid of £50 million is successful.
The promotion of walking and cycling is part of the council’s plans to develop, what they call, ‘liveable neighbourhoods. The work being done to improve the standard of public transport is likely to include over 100 new bus stops, as well as train station-style audio announcements and screens that will feature live information.
Lancashire County Council Transport Cabinet Member, Councillor Charlie Edwards, said:
“Liveable neighbourhoods are communities where people can go work, go to school, go [their] GP, go to the shop within a 20 minute or half-an-hour journey… where maybe you don’t need to use your car all the time [and] where you can hop onto a cycle path, or you just live in a better-designed place.”
The widening of footpaths and cycle lanes, as well as surface upgrades and controlled crossing points will bring improvement to eight walking and cycling corridors, whilst four new mobility hubs will also be introduced to manage shifts between public transport, walking and cycling within the same journey. Secure cycle storage, ticketing information, seating, shelter, lighting and CCTV will all be available on those routes, whilst there is also potential for cycle repair workshops, delivery lockers and electric vehicle charge points to be included.
The railway station in Accrington is also due to get an overhaul that will bring a new footbridge as well as lifts being added to both platforms.
The levelling up fund has already assisted the area, with £19.5 million going towards the upgrading of Uclan (University of Central Lancashire) campus which sits inside the borough, as well as Pendle council being granted £19.5 million to improve the indoor market and theatres in Colne.
