The county council is asking the public what it thinks of an interim transport strategy for a congestion-hit town.
A six-week engagement exercise launches today (20th January) on the Melton Mowbray Transport Strategy (MMTS) and the council is encouraging people to have their say.
The context around the development of the strategy is that Melton has been blighted for years by significant traffic congestion which, says the strategy document, “impacts on residents’ lives, the efficiency of its businesses and limits the town’s ability to grow.”
We know the proposed north and east distributor road will make a difference by easing traffic and improving journey times.
But the road alone – as welcome as it is – is not sufficient to support the planned growth of the town and surrounding area.
It needs to form part of a wider package of measures to help address the town’s existing traffic problems, support the growth of the town and to achieve wider objectives, including environmental and health factors, such as encouraging more walking and cycling
Person:Councillor Trevor Pendleton, county council cabinet member for highways and transportAmong the suggestions and ideas outlined in the strategy are:
• Proposals for improving the walking and cycling network;
• The possibility of a ‘bus hub’ – a type of mini bus station – to support passenger transport provision;
• Re-classifying and re-signing town roads as well as re-routing lorries to encourage as much traffic as possible to use the distributor road.
The strategy also provides a clear framework for securing developer contributions towards the delivery of the strategy and to support further bids to government for future funding.
To have your say, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/melton-mowbray-transport-strategy and, for further information, email MMTS@leics.gov.uk .
Responses to the MMTS will be considered by the county council’s Cabinet in the Summer.