4.4 South Lancashire

4.4.1 About Preston

As England’s newest city, Preston is actively pursuing its vision to become the third city of the North West. The granting of city status in 2002 was a significant achievement that recognised Preston’s long history, diverse community and sub-regional importance. It also raised Preston’s national and international profile, increasing the city’s potential to attract further investment and jobs.

Economic sustainability is vital to the city. The Core Central Lancashire Sub Regional Strategy, prepared jointly with South Ribble and Chorley Boroughs, demonstrates how the three districts can introduce transport improvements to drive the economy of Central Lancashire.

Preston has a total population of 131,000. The population density of the District is 923 people per square kilometre compared to 467 for Lancashire and 351 for England and Wales. The advantages of a good workforce and location have helped Preston to adapt and diversify its employment structure from a traditional manufacturing base in textiles and engineering, whilst retaining BAE Systems in the sub-region as an important advanced technology industry employing over 10,000 staff.

Preston has a strategic location at a bridging point on the River Ribble and lies at the very heart of Lancashire's business and transport networks. It is the retail, commercial and administrative centre of the County, with County Hall, a modern Crown Court complex and a wide range of regional and sub-regional offices of public agencies, banks, insurance and other professional bodies. The Tithebarn scheme in the city centre is an important retail and residential development. The campus of the University of Central Lancashire is located immediately adjacent to the city centre, with strong links to local industry and commerce. The 30,000 students skew the age profile of the District compared to the average for Lancashire.

Table 4.4.1a Resident Population by Age Group, mid 2004 %

	Age Band
	0-14	15-24	25-44	45-64	65+
Preston	18.6	16.3	28.5	22.0	14.5
Lancashire	18.6	13.1	26.6	25.1	16.7
North West	18.4	13.3	27.6	24.6	16.1
England & Wales	18.2	12.9	28.7	22.0	16.1

Earnings in Preston are below the average for Lancashire and there are significant areas which suffer from deprivation. In fact, 16 out of 84 SOAs, almost 20%, lie within the worst 10% nationally. Preston, like Burnley and Pendle, is amongst the 21 out of 46 Local Authorities in the North West supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Table 4.4.1b Socio-economic Groups, 2001 %

	Employed	Never worked	Long-term unemployed	Full-time students	Not Classifiable
Preston	66.7	3.9	1.1	10.6	17.7
Lancashire	70.1	2.8	0.9	6.8	19.4
North West	68.9	3.1	1.1	7.0	19.9
England & Wales	71.4	2.7	1.0	7.0	17.9

4.4.2 District Communications

Preston occupies a strategic location on national north-south and east-west corridors. As a result, large distribution centres have become well established around Preston, taking advantage of the city's excellent communication links via the M6, M61 (Manchester), M55 (Blackpool) and M65 (East Lancashire) motorways.

Between the M61 and M55 junctions, the M6 has been widened to four lanes in each direction and Junction 31A provides direct road links to strategic employment sites east of the motorway. The extension of the M65 to link with the M6 and M61 south of Preston has completed a local high standard road network allowing access to all parts of the North West and beyond.

Figure 4.4.2

A high proportion of highway based intra/inter district movements enter the Preston City Centre Cordon causing congestion at weekday peaks. A pilot package of Urban Traffic Management and Control measures has been implemented to make more efficient use of the local network. Two Park & Ride operations have been introduced to reduce the number of car journeys into the city centre. Further sites are planned.

Preston is a principal station on the West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow. Network Rail has completed three stages of the £8billion upgrade of the WCML;

• the first stage between London and Manchester
• the second between Crewe, Preston and Liverpool, and
• the third between Preston and Glasgow.

Virgin’s tilting Pendolino trains are now be able to travel at up to 125mph on the entire London to Glasgow route, cutting the journey time down from more than five hours to under four and a half hours. Lancashire, with the neighbouring Local Authorities, PTEs and the rail industry, will consider the case for the electrification of the Manchester-Preston-Blackpool line.

Preston lies at the midpoint of the National Cycle Network where five routes meet and has a developing cycle network. Since 2000, new routes have been opened along the canal linking north west suburbs to the city centre and along the river bank in the south west. Cycling studies in Preston have identified improvements estimated at over £1 million. Preston has a new Cycling Strategy which details proposals and targets for cycling in the city. There is increasing interest in promoting cycling from major employers including the hospital and university. Personalised Travel Planning in the CiVITAS programme together with new infrastructure will raise the level of cycling in Preston.

Rights of Way Improvement Plan projects will support the aims of the County Council and the Local Transport Plan. Schemes identified to improve access between urban and rural areas include;

• Preston to Ribble Valley bridleway Link
• Savick Brook Bridge on the North West Coastal Trail
• programme of roadside verge improvement in the Barton/Goosnargh area.

4.4.3 Journey to Work

Preston is the administrative and commercial centre of Lancashire and by far the largest single workcentre. 68.5% of employees live and work in the district and over 40,000 people commute to the district each day, whilst 36,000 Preston residents commute outwards to other work centres. Preston has increased in importance over the period 1951-2000, attracting a net gain of 22,300 workers from all parts of the sub-region and beyond.

Table 4.4.3a Car Ownership by Household %

	No Car	One Car	Two Cars	Three plus cars	Cars/Household
Preston	31	44	20	6	0.99
Lancashire	25	45	24	6	1.12
North west	30	44	22	4	1.02
England & Wales	27	43	24	6	1.11

Source: Census 2001

Car ownership in the district is below the average for Lancashire and journeys to work by bus are correspondingly higher. Although Preston shows an above average numbers of work trips in the 20-60km range, 19% of journeys to work are under 2km and almost half are under 5km. The City of Preston has Park & Ride operations to the south and the south-east and lies at a node of the National Cycle Network. The CiVITAS programme will promote the use of sustainable transport and through Personalised Travel Planning will seek to transfer journeys to walking, cycling, public transport and Park & Ride, reducing the number of car journeys into the city centre, peak hour congestion and air pollution.

Table 4.4.3b Journey to Work by Mode 2001 %

	Working from home	Metro, light rail or tram	Train	Bus or coach	Motor cycle	Car driver	Pass enger'	Taxi	Bicycle	On foot	Other
Preston	7.4	0.1	0.7	11.2	0.9	55.8	7.5	0.5	2.6	12.9	0.4
Lancashire	9.0	0.1	1.0	6.3	1.0	59.4	8.0	0.8	2.4	11.5	0.5
North West	8.4	0.6	1.9	8.6	0.9	58.4	7.5	0.8	2.3	10.3	0.5
England & Wales	9.2	3.0	4.1	7.4	1.1	55.2	6.3	0.5	2.8	10.0	0.5

Source: Census 2001

4.4.4 Air Quality and Congestion in Preston

Preston City Centre has a number of transport corridors that are used intensively for long periods of the day, resulting in queuing and congestion and poor air quality. In September 2005, Preston City Council, under the Environmental Act 1995, declared Air Quality Management Areas where the level of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide exceeded the Government target objective in;

• an area between Church Street and Percy Street adjacent to the junctions of these roads and the A6/A59 Ringway
• an area in the vicinity of the junction of the A5085 Blackpool Road and Plungington Road.

Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council will continue to work as a team to supplement the information already gathered for the Stage IV Assessment. This work will provide the technical justification for the measures to be included in the Action Plan. The Action Plan and its expected influence on the network will be included in Annual Progress Reports.

4.4.5 Existing Conditions and Linkages

We have a vision of a Total Transport Network (ttn) for Preston. We have made progress towards this by opening Park & Ride operations in the south and south-east of Preston and introducing Quality Bus services on three routes. We will extend Park & Ride to the north and east of Preston and introduce Quality Bus services to a further route and the new Preston Orbit service. High technology has been used too. Real Time Information is provided on Quality Bus routes, has been extended to Preston-Leyland services and will be introduced on the Preston Orbit route. A package of Urban Traffic Management and Control measures has been introduced to the Preston and South Ribble network. Measures include car park management, local access control, journey time monitoring, incident management using Variable Message Signs and advanced traffic signal control. We will take a further step towards our vision of the ttn by implementing the CiVITAS programme.

Preston’s Community Strategy links with and runs parallel to this LTP2 submission. The first priority of the Community Strategy is the regeneration of the city centre. This includes development of business leading to an increase in job opportunities and encompasses improvements to infrastructure, particularly transport. Neighbourhood Management schemes help to bring services closer to the community by finding out what local people need and setting priorities to deliver better services. The One Voice Neighbourhood Management scheme completed a Community Street Audit in Ribbleton and Brookfield. Three more neighbourhood management schemes have been set up covering Fishwick and St Matthew’s, the Town Centre and St George’s, and Ingol.

Preston and District neighbours South Ribble and Chorley are working closely to establish themselves as the key economic drivers of the Central Lancashire economy by implementing the Core Central Lancashire Sub Regional Strategy. The LTP takes regard of the measures suggested and dovetails with the strategy to ensure good linkages with the proposals for Preston, South Ribble and Chorley.

Preston East is a 38.65ha employment site to the east of Preston, adjacent to M6 Junction 31A. Owned by English Partnerships, it has been earmarked for manufacturing, distribution and commercial uses. The Preston Orbit Quality Bus service will provide a valuable link between the employment site and areas of deprivation. A Park & Ride site at M6 Junction 31A will serve traffic from the M6 and local traffic from Longridge, taking passengers to the Royal Preston Hospital and employment areas along Eastway.

The Preston City Vision incorporates a number of initiatives of major significance;

• a new state-of-the-art interchange in the city centre will develop Preston’s role as a major transport hub
• enhanced bus interchange at Preston railway station and improved bus and rail connections to complement the expansion of Blackpool airport
• improved accessibility to Preston city centre through traffic management improvements, Park & Ride, highway improvements and enhanced bus services
• improvements to urban gateways into Preston city centre, including existing congested crossing points over the River Ribble and development of the A59 corridor at New Hall Lane.

4.4.6 Funding for many of the above schemes will come from several sources, supplemented by LTP funding. City Vision initiatives with implications for the transport network include the redevelopment of the Tithebarn Regeneration Area, the creation of a new Central Business District, the development of the Preston East employment site and the Riverworks proposals.

4.4.7 The ttn and CiVITAS Project

The first Local Transport Plan described our vision of a complete transport solution called the Total Transport Network (ttn). We are bringing together best practice and innovation in Preston and South Ribble to create the first ttn and by 2020 we intend it to be a showcase for transport in the UK.

The European Union CiVITAS programme promotes city vitality and sustainability and addresses the challenge to achieve a radical change in urban transport through the combination of technology and policy-based measures. Lancashire County, Preston City and South Ribble Borough Councils are jointly participating in the CiVITAS Success project to achieve a significant change in the modal split towards sustainable transport modes.

The first step towards the ttn was taken during our LTP1, and CiVITAS will allow us to take the next step through investment of £4.2 million over the next 5 years. We will promote sustainable transport in Preston and South Ribble with new vehicle technologies for buses, congestion reducing measures and innovative systems for transport planning and information provision. Schemes include an efficient bus network of hybrid vehicles running on electricity and biodiesel and improvements to the public realm through a Clear Zone in the city centre and access management in the University Zone.

4.4.8 Key Schemes in Preston

There has been consultation and participation with the Local Strategic Partnership and Preston City Council to set priorities and develop schemes to meet LTP objectives. The key schemes for Preston are;

• Preston North Park & Ride schemes
• CiVITAS Sustainable Transport Project
• Preston Guild Wheel Cycle Route and City Centre Cycle Hub
• Preston Air Quality Junction improvements
• Preston Bus Station.

The table lists the five key schemes and their impact on the four shared transport priorities.

Table 4.4.8

Summary of Key Schemes in Preston and their expected impact
Scheme	Scheme Area	Impact Area	Modes Affected	Shared Priority
				Congestion	Accessibility	Safer Roads	Air Quality
Preston North Park & Ride Schemes	Broughton and M6 Junction 31A	City Centre, Eastway and Royal Preston Hospital	Bus	Car journeys transferred to P&R will reduce traffic levels and congestion.	Improved access to City Centre employment and services from north and east.	Car journeys transferred to P&R will reduce traffic levels and risks of accidents.	Car journeys transferred to P&R will reduce traffic levels and pollutants.
CiVITAS Sustainable Transport Project	Preston and South Ribble	Preston and South Ribble	Bus Walking Cycling	Car journeys transferred to sustainable transport will reduce traffic flows and congestion.	Traffic management will improve access on foot and by cycle to the university and city centre services.	Traffic management and car journeys transferred to sustainable transport will reduce risk of accidents.	Hybrid buses and car journeys transferred to sustainable transport will reduce traffic flows and pollutants.
Preston Guild Wheel Cycle Route and Cycle Hub	Preston	Preston	Cycling	Cycling improvements will improve accessibility to local and city centre services.	Off road cycle and footpaths will reduce risk of accidents to cyclists and pedestrians.	Off road cycle and footpaths will reduce risk of accidents to cyclists and pedestrians.	Car journeys transferred to cycling will reduce traffic flows and pollutants.
Preston Air Quality Junction Improvements	Selected junctions including A6, A5085 and A59	Selected junctions including A6, A5085 and A59	All modes	Junction improvements will improve flow of traffic and reduce congestion.	Junction improvements will give priority to buses and reduce journey times.	Junction improvements will increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists.	Junction improvements will improve flow of traffic and reduce queuing and pollutants.
Preston Bus Station	City Centre	City Centre	Bus	Car journeys transferred to bus will reduce traffic flows and congestion.	Increased access to employment and city centre services.	Car journeys transferred to bus will reduce traffic flows and road accidents.	Car journeys transferred to bus will reduce traffic flows and pollutants.

4.4.9 Preston North Park & Ride Sites

Preston City Centre is a regional economic hub for business and education services and its retail offering. It accommodates the largest shopping centre in Lancashire, the administrative centre County Hall and the University of Central Lancashire with 30,000 students. Relief from traffic and congestion in the city centre is of primary importance to the city and the neighbouring boroughs.

Garstang Road is the main entry into Preston from the north and M6 Junction 32 but suffers from growing peak hour congestion. Royal Preston Hospital is one of the two main sites of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serving Preston and Chorley. It requires good access for patients, staff and visitors The growing employment areas around Eastway need access for staff and deliveries. Peak hour traffic on Eastway is causing congestion and parking problems are emerging at both locations.

Successful Park & Ride sites already operate in the south east and south of the city. Two further sites are proposed to serve traffic from the M6 and local traffic from the north and the east.

• A Park & Ride site at Broughton will serve traffic from the M6 Junction 32 and local traffic from the north. P&R linked to bus priority measures will improve journey times into the city centre, reduce the number of car journeys and relieve peak hour flows.
• A Park & Ride site at M6 Junction 31A will serve traffic from the M6 and local traffic from Longridge, taking passengers to the Royal Preston Hospital and employment areas along Eastway. It will reduce the number of car journeys and relieve the peak hour flows on Eastway and improve access to M6 Junction 31A.

Contributions from any development proposals in north east Preston will support the Park & Ride proposals and other measures to mitigate traffic congestion in the area.

4.4.10 CiVITAS Sustainable Transport Project

The CiVITAS measures in Preston and South Ribble will build on the progress under the first Local Transport Plan towards a Total Transport Network. This will enable wider improvement of the transport network and enhancement of the urban environment.

Eight co-ordinated work packages have been identified as the basic building blocks of the programme:

• Energy-efficient, cost-effective and clean public vehicle fleets. The project will introduce seven diesel/electric hybrid buses using biodiesel.
• Improvement of trading conditions through better retail environments. Access management will restrict access to the inner city areas and other sensitive zones.
• Integration of pricing strategies for car parking and public transport and re-investment of revenue in transport improvements.
• Stimulation of collective passenger transport and its quality of service by means of improved accessibility, security and safety; integration with walking, cycling and other modes, multi-operator ticketing, information and signage.
• New forms of vehicle use through the introduction of shared use and/or ownership of cars, lift-sharing and car clubs.
• New concepts for the distribution of goods. A partnership with freight operators and other stakeholders will lead to the development of measures such as signing of freight routes and the production of a lorry drivers’ atlas.
• Innovative soft measures for managing mobility by introducing new approaches to integrated planning, promoting business, school and personalised travel plans and awareness programmes.
• Integration of transport management systems. Information systems for passenger services and intermodal travel, transport pricing and payment, vehicle location and guidance and traffic management.

In addition, we shall be carrying out a large programme of evaluation and dissemination work. The project will run until January 2008. Partners include Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Preston Bus and the Transport & Travel Research consultancy.

The effective control of vehicles by better access management will bring traffic and environmental benefits to Preston City Centre and the student village surrounding the University. Improvements to the public realm will promote cycling and pedestrian movement and make these sensitive areas better places to work, live and visit.

A Clear Zone will be implemented in Preston City Centre, very much targeted at public realm improvements with benefits for economic activity. Gateways and through routes will be re-assessed to remove unnecessary traffic. The scheme will dovetail with the development of the Tithebarn proposals, enhancing the city centre’s retail and Conservation Areas. A Vision Statement will be prepared with Preston City Council, followed by strategy development. Consultation on the Clear Zone Strategy is programmed for late summer 2006.

Comprehensive improvements for pedestrians and cyclists have already been introduced to the gyratory system on the border of the University Zone, but traffic still runs through the University Zone. Traffic management will divert the through traffic to parallel, more suitable, routes. Traffic calming will reduce the speed of traffic requiring access, reducing the number of accidents further and providing a quieter environment. Consultation will take place on changes to the highway network and the creation of a 20mph zone throughout the area.

4.4.11 Guild Wheel Cycle Route and City Centre Cycle Hub

Preston aims to become a cycling city. Improvements to the cycle network will enable the city to take advantage of the Personalised Travel Planning project within the CiVITAS project. The Hub, a cycle centre to provide secure storage, cycle repairs and facilities for cyclists, is planned for the city centre. Once established, The Hub will be self-financing and independently managed.

New developments and the CiVITAS Project will provide the opportunity to improve cycle access to and across the city centre. Cycle access to the city centre from the north is poor. Green spaces provide the opportunity to develop routes in the north of the city linking residential areas with the hospital, employment sites, college and schools. The river corridor offers the chance to develop traffic free cycle routes linking more deprived areas such as Ribbleton with the city centre, dock and employment sites.

Schemes will be designed to build upon the existing network, alleviating traffic problems and improving accessibility. Two studies of cycling in Preston and the the Preston City Council Cycling Strategy contain further useful schemes. Cycling on Main Roads in Preston (2004) sets out proposals on ten routes into Preston. Cycle Routes to Preston University Quarter (2006) offers five new routes to the city centre campus. Schemes in the Preston Cycling Strategy include;

• Guild Wheel Circular Cycle Route linking areas of need with employment areas around the city
• extension of cycle track on former railway outwards to Preston East Employment Area, Grimsargh and Longridge and inwards to the city centre
• Tulketh Community Sports College to Fulwood Link
• Riverside Path, Preston Dock
• Avenham Park and Miller Park Routes linking the riverside cycle route to the city centre
• Preston Station Route linking the riverside cycle route with the railway station and Fishergate Shopping Centre
• Grange Valley, Ribbleton to River Ribble Link
• Trans-Fulwood Link
• Eaves Brook Link from Ribbleton to Fulwood
• Savick Brook Link
• University Campus cycle improvements.

4.4.12 Air Quality Junction Improvements

The A6 is a strategic route of national importance. It is also a vital local link running through the heart of Preston. With the imminent development of Preston City Centre, under the Tithebarn project, it is a timely opportunity to look at the performance of the A6 which, even under current conditions, suffers congestion at peak hours.

Figure 4.4.12

The Tithebarn project will enable several junctions along the central A6 to be reviewed and improved as a result of developer contributions. However LTP investment may be needed to add complementary schemes to provide a holistic transport system for the city. Schemes under consideration are;

To improve air quality;

• Church Street/Ringway
• Blackpool Road/Plungington Road
• A6/New Hall Lane.

To improve Quality Bus corridors and improve access to new bus station;

• A6/Church Street
• A6/North Road.

To complement the Tithebarn and City Centre regeneration projects;

• Fishergate/Corporation Street.

To improve pedestrian/cyclist safety;

• Blackpool Road/Ribbleton Avenue
• Ringway/Friargate
• Friargate/Kendal Street.

4.4.13 Preston Bus Station

There are proposals for a major city centre redevelopment drawn up in partnership between the private sector and Preston City Council. As part of the redevelopment, the existing bus station would be replaced with a new transport facility. Preston is the key interchange for bus and coach services throughout Lancashire and the North West and the new £15M Regional Bus Interchange will provide a state of the art facility for the 21^st century.

The existing bus station dates from the late 1960s and is now in need of major work to bring it up to current standards. The new development scheme provides the opportunity to provide an updated facility for the benefit of all travellers. It is envisaged that the scheme will be jointly funded by the developers, North West Development Agency and Lancashire County Council. The County Council’s contribution would be £5million. We are working towards an opening date of 2010 for the new interchange, although this is dependent upon the progression of the major redevelopment.

4.4.14 About South Ribble

South Ribble lies at the heart of Lancashire, immediately south of Preston and the River Ribble. South Ribble has a population of approximately 105,000 people. Leyland is the main shopping and administrative centre, followed by Bamber Bridge and Penwortham. The population density of the Borough is comparatively high at 934 people per square kilometre compared to 467 for Lancashire and 351 for England and Wales.

The Borough has an good location for business and a thriving business community which has proved itself adaptable to economic changes. The area has excellent communications by road (M6, M61 and M65) to destinations in Lancashire and beyond.

South Ribble's economic strength has traditionally been based on the engineering and motor vehicle industries.  The local pattern of employment has changed so that the service sector now accounts for 64% of total employment and agriculture, manufacturing, construction and production for 36%. This change to a service sector dominated economy is testimony to the resilience of the workforce within South Ribble and the Preston Travel To Work Area in general. Unemployment levels in South Ribble are consistently very low.

The total number of people employed within the Borough is around 40,000. BAE Systems employs 5,000 people in the aerospace industry at Samlesbury. Walton Summit and Lancashire Business Parks both have good connections by road; Walton Summit actually lies within a triangle of motorways.

Table 4.4.14a Resident Population by Age Group, mid 2004 %

	Age Band
	0 - 14	15 -24	25 -44	45 -64	65+
South Ribble	18.0	11.8	27.7	26.4	16.2
Lancashire	18.6	13.1	26.6	25.1	16.7
North West	18.4	13.3	27.6	24.6	16.1
England & Wales	18.2	12.9	28.7	24.2	16.1

Table 4.4.14b Socio-economic Groups, 2001 %

	Employed	Never worked	Long-term unemployed	Full-time students	Not classifiable
South Ribble	75.4	1.2	0.5	5.2	17.7
Lancashire	70.1	2.8	0.9	6.8	19.4
North West	68.9	3.1	1.1	7.0	19.9
England & Wales	71.4	2.7	1.0	7.0	17.9

Source: Lancashire Profile

Economic sustainability is vital to the Borough, which is currently in the process of planning the Core Central Lancashire Sub Regional Strategy with Preston City and Chorley Borough Councils. The strategy will describe how the three districts can drive the economy of Central Lancashire. Transport improvements are clearly a key element of this strategy.

4.4.15 Journey to Work

Table 4.4.15a Car Ownership by Household %

	No Car	One Car	Two Cars	Three plus Cars	Cars/Household
South Ribble	18	46	29	8	1.26
Lancashire	25	45	24	6	1.12
North West	30	44	22	4	1.02
England & Wales	27	43	24	6	1.11

Car ownership levels and cars per household in the Borough are higher than the average for Lancashire, the North West and England and Wales. As may be expected, a higher proportion drive to work than average, but the number of cyclists is higher than average too.

Table 4.4.15b Journey to Work by Mode %

	Working from home	Metro, light rail or tram	Train	Bus or coach	Motor cycle	Car driver	Pass enger	Taxi	Bicycle	On foot	Other
South Ribble	8.1	0.0	1.0	5.8	1.3	64.6	7.4	0.4	3.9	7.2	0.3
Lancashire	9.0	0.1	1.0	6.3	1.0	59.4	8.0	0.8	2.4	11.5	0.5
North West	8.4	0.6	1.9	8.6	0.9	58.4	7.5	0.8	2.3	10.3	0.5
England & Wales	9.2	3.0	4.1	7.4	1.1	55.2	6.3	0.5	2.8	10.0	0.5

Source: Census 2001

Only 44.6% of employees live and work in South Ribble. Employees have a high dependency on Preston for work and there is a net outflow of workers of 9,640 daily. Nevertheless, 22% of journeys to work are under 2km and 43% are under 5km. Safe and convenient paths would encourage more workers to travel to work on foot and by cycle and would encourage trips on foot and by cycle to schools and other services too.

4.4.16 District Communications

South Ribble has superb motorway links, with the M6, M61 and M65 all serving the Borough. Heavy traffic volumes, combined with limited choice of routes to Preston, cause traffic congestion that is becoming a major concern. South Ribble has an extensive bus network. Real Time Information displays have been introduced to the 111 service running from Preston via Lostock Hall to Leyland town centre. Quality Bus services will be introduced to the 125/6 services running from Preston via Clayton Brook to Chorley and over the GMPTE border to Bolton. Local services have been re-routed to travel from Leyland to Chorley via the Regional Investment Site at Buckshaw Village.

Dial-a-Ride services are provided by Preston Community Transport and Central Lancashire Dial-a Ride. Difficulties arise in the rural areas outside the Borough’s main conurbation, with public transport services struggling to maintain commerciality due to the lower density of population.

Hospital care is provided by the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with hospitals at Preston and Chorley. Chorley Hospital is well served by bus services and all the bus services to the hospital, and their nearest stops, are shown in a County Council leaflet. Service 115 runs hourly from Preston via Moss Side and Leyland town centre to a bus stop inside the hospital grounds beside the out-patients entrance. The 108 service, supported by Rural Bus Grant, runs daily from Walmer Bridge direct to Chorley Hospital. The Red Rose Runner is a Dial-a-Ride bus service connecting people living in rural areas to the hospitals. 

South Ribble has good rail connections. Leyland station lies between Preston and Wigan stations on the West Coast Main Line and is also served by Preston-Manchester and Preston-Liverpool trains. Station improvements would encourage more passengers to take the train and not all four platforms have easy access for disabled passengers. Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge stations lie on the Preston-Blackburn line and serve both commuters and shoppers.

Leyland has traditionally had high cycle use and secondary schools such as Hutton Grammar School have high cycling levels. The installation of secure, covered cycle storage as part of a School Travel Plan at Lostock Hall High School quickly doubled the number of cyclists from 45 to 90. The Borough lies on the National Cycle Network and there are good cycle routes into Preston City Centre from Bamber Bridge and Penwortham. Cycle use, at 3.9%, is considerably higher than the Lancashire average on journeys to work, but walking at 7.2% is significantly lower. There is scope to build upon existing good cycle and walking links into Preston city centre, develop further cycle routes between Preston and Leyland and improve cycling and walking routes to employment areas and schools.

Schemes identified in the Rights of Way Improvement Plan to improve access between urban and rural areas include;

• crossing of River Douglas near Becconsall
• development of Bridleway along Ribble Way.

4.4.17 Existing Conditions and Linkages

The Local Transport Plan dovetails with South Ribble’s Community Plan and Strategy. The priority for transport is to develop practical sustainable transport solutions for people within South Ribble. The community of South Ribble is aiming to;

• reduce traffic congestion and pollution
• increase the number of people using public transport
• work with public transport providers to improve the reliability and accessibility of public transport
• develop and promote cycling and walking strategies
• develop and promote active Travel Plans at employment sites
• develop School Travel Plans.

The Borough is working closely with its district neighbours Preston and Chorley to become the key economic drivers of the Central Lancashire economy by establishing and implementing the Core Central Lancashire Sub Regional Strategy. The LTP takes regard of the measures suggested in the strategy and there are very good linkages with the submissions made by Preston and Chorley. The strategy will show how the three councils can support the delivery of economic growth in the city region.

South Ribble is a partner in the European Union CiVITAS sustainable transport project to be implemented in Preston and South Ribble. CiVITAS measures will build on the progress under the first LTP towards a Total Transport Network. They will enable wider improvement of the transport network and enhancement of the urban environment. Work in Leyland will include traffic management in Hough Lane to make the environment more friendly to pedestrians. We will also improve pedestrian and cycling links from the station to the Lancashire Business Park on Centurion Way. The work will be integrated with public transport improvements on Hough Lane.

4.4.18 Air Quality and Congestion

South Ribble Borough has a number of transport corridors in and around its main centres which are well used for most periods of the day. This results in queuing and congestion on individual routes and poor air quality at isolated locations.

Figure 4.4.18

In August 2005, under the Environmental Act 1995, South Ribble Borough Council declared four Air Quality Management Areas where the pollutant nitrogen dioxide exceeded the Government target. The Council is required to undertake a further Stage IV Assessment of air quality. The areas declared are;

1. The stretch of the A59 Liverpool Road, Penwortham from Kingsway to Queensway; Priory Lane from the junction with the A59 Liverpool Road to Kingsway; Cop Lane from the junction with the A59 Liverpool Road up to and including No.32 Cop Lane.
2. An area encompassing the A6/A675 Victoria Road in Walton-le-Dale between the Bridge Inn/Ribble Crescent to the north and the Yew Tree Inn to the south.
3. An area encompassing the junction of Leyland Road and Brownedge Road, Lostock Hall and the roads leading up to it from the Fir Trees Road in the north, Avondale drive to the east and St James’ Close/Victoria Street to the south-east.
4. An area along Station Road in Bamber Bridge between St Mary’s Road/Eaveswood Close to the north and Havelock Road/Church Road to the south.

Lancashire County Council and South Ribble Borough Council will continue to work as a team to supplement the information already gathered for the Stage IV Assessment. This work will provide the technical justification for the measures to be included in the Action Plan. The Stage IV Assessment is to be submitted 12 months from declaring the AQMA and the Action Plan, if required, to be submitted 6 months later with continuous consultation throughout the process. The Action Plan and its expected influence on the network will be included in Annual Progress Reports. Following implementation, observed changes will also be reported.

4.4.19 Key Schemes for South Ribble

There has been regular consultation and participation with the Local Strategic Partnership as well as meetings with South Ribble Borough Council to develop schemes to meet the LTP objectives. The key schemes for South Ribble are;

• Leyland Town Centre Regeneration
• Tardy Gate AQMA Action Plan
• Bamber Bridge Public Transport Initiatives
• accessibility improvements to Employment Areas and hospitals
• School Travel Plan package.

The table lists the five key schemes and their impact on the four shared transport priorities.

Table 4.4.19

Summary of Schemes in South Ribble and their expected impact
Scheme	Scheme Area	Impact Area	Modes Affected	Shared Priority
				Congestion	Accessibility	Safer Roads	Air Quality
Leyland Town Centre Regeneration	Leyland Town Centre	Leyland Town Centre	Car LGV Bus Rail Walking Cycling	Traffic management will prevent through traffic and reduce congestion.	Traffic management will improve access for pedestrians and cyclists to services on Hough Lane.	Traffic management will prevent through traffic and improve road safety.	Traffic management will prevent through traffic and improve air quality.
Tardy Gate AQMA Action Plan	Tardy Gate, Lostock Hall	Tardy Gate, Lostock Hall	Car LGV Bus Rail Walking Cycling	Car journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce congestion.	Public transport and active improvements will improve access for people without a car.	Car journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce traffic and improve road safety.	Car journeys transferred to public transport will improve air quality.
Bamber Bridge Public Transport Initiatives	Bamber Bridge	Bamber Bridge	Car LGV Bus Rail Walking Cycling	Car journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce congestion.	Public transport and active improvements will improve access for people without a car.	Car journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce traffic and improve road safety.	Car journeys transferred to public transport will improve air quality.
Accessibility Improvements to Employment Areas and Hospitals	Walton Summit Business Park, Lancashire Business Park, Local Hospitals	Walton Summit, Lancashire Enterprise Park, Local Hospitals	Car LGV Bus Rail Walking Cycling	Car sharing and journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce congestion.	Public transport and active improvements will improve access for people without a car.	Car sharing and journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce traffic and improve road safety.	Car sharing and  journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will improve air quality.
School Travel Plan Package	South Ribble	South Ribble	Walking Cycling	Car journeys transferred to walking and cycling will reduce congestion.	School Travel Plans and Safer Routes to School will improve access to schools on foot and by cycle.	Car sharing and journeys transferred to public transport and active travel will reduce traffic and improve road safety.	Car journeys transferred to walking and cycling will improve air quality.

4.4.20 Leyland Town Centre Regeneration

Leyland is the only town in the Borough and is ranked as a second tier centre in the Structure Plan. The town centre forms one of the pilot regeneration areas in the Borough for environmental, social and physical improvement. South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council have committed capital funds and resources to enable the regeneration project to progress within a 3-year timescale. To complement the local works, highway improvements are required in the town centre and on Hough Lane in particular.

Through the CiVITAS programme, a traffic management scheme will be developed to minimise pedestrian/vehicle conflicts whilst allowing public transport and delivery vehicles access to the area. The plan will offer appropriate alternative routes for through traffic on the roads around Hough Lane. The plan will improve the public realm for residents and visitors and the environment for walkers and cyclists.

Public transport improvements will be integrated with the CiVITAS works, creating a bus focus with improved waiting facilities for passengers. Pedestrian and cycling links will be provided between Leyland station and Lancashire Business Park on Centurion Way.

4.4.21 Tardy Gate AQMA Action Plan

Tardy Gate has a pedestrianised local retail and service centre. Local residents and retailers feel strongly about the poor air quality caused by traffic travelling to Preston city centre and queuing at peak times. The monitoring already carried out has led to the area being designated as an Air Quality Management Area: South Ribble AQMA No.3. The centre is served by local bus and rail routes and has limited highway capacity. Real Time Information displays have been installed on the 111 service from Preston to Leyland via Tardy Gate.

A further package of public transport improvements would enhance use of Tardy Gate’s assets and improve accessibility and air quality. Bus stops could be upgraded to mini-interchanges, particularly at the Brownedge Road/Leyland Road junction. Secure cycle parking at key locations, especially the mini-interchanges and railway station, would improve access for cyclists. Lostock Hall railway station would benefit from Real Time Information, improved passenger facilities and secure car parking.

Whilst further monitoring is needed to gain a greater detailed knowledge of the air quality, a coordinated Action Plan will be required to resolve any identified problems. Further monitoring will be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of any measures implemented.

4.4.22 Bamber Bridge Public Transport Initiatives

Bamber Bridge is a small town on the outskirts of Preston. Although it is bypassed by the A6 and M6, sufficient local traffic still uses the main road (B6258) through the town to cause congestion. Standing traffic at the level crossing by the railway station leads to poor air quality. The air quality monitoring already carried out has led to the area being designated as an Air Quality Monitoring Area.

Bamber Bridge is in an excellent position to benefit from public transport improvements. The B6258 will be included in the Quality Bus route linking Bamber Bridge to Preston, Chorley and Bolton centres, as well as local employment and housing areas. New bus shelters and bus stops with improved access for passengers and buses will accompany bus priority at junctions.

Improvements to accessibility, passenger waiting facilities, local bus interchange, secure cycle parking, better lighting and amenity of the station would encourage more passengers to take the train to Preston and Blackburn.

4.4.23 Accessibility Improvements to Employment Areas and Hospitals

South Ribble has a number of major employment sites. Walton Summit and Lancashire Business Parks enjoy excellent motorway access with good access by car but not by other modes of transport. Groundwork and Lancashire County Council have been working to develop business Travel Plans in these two areas and a number of improvements have been identified as a result. A range of access improvements have been formulated to improve access by cycling, public transport and by car.

Both employment areas have identified car sharing as a means of reducing overall car use. Each employment area will set up a car share club so that people can share lifts to different employers on each site.

Both employment areas are near to the National Cycle Network but require local links to join them to the network. Secure cycle parking and lighting improvements would contribute to increasing numbers of people cycling to work. Cycle links are also required from Leyland to the Strategic Regional Investment Site at Buckshaw which reaches into South Ribble from Chorley.

Access to local hospitals has been raised as an area of concern by the community. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust divides its healthcare between two sites at Chorley and Preston, employing a total staff of 5,500. Through the Local Transport Partnership, the County Council has established the Red Rose Runner, a Dial-a-Ride bus service taking patients from rural areas to appointments for healthcare. Highway works linked to Matrix Park have produced road and cycleway improvements on the approaches to Chorley Hospital.

The County Council is a member of the EU project Optimum2, a four year project ending in 2007 to improve access to urban sites. Working with the NHS Trust, the County Council will develop a variety of measures including cycling and bus services to improve access for patients, visitors and staff to Chorley and Preston Hospitals, and also between them.

4.4.24 South Ribble School Travel Plans

School journeys by car are a major contributor to traffic volumes at peak hours and are a source of local congestion. The Local Strategic Partnership sees improvements to travel to school as one of its priorities. School Travel Plans, in conjunction with Safer Routes to School, promote walking and cycling to school, and also give children the opportunity to take daily exercise.

Ten schools in South Ribble were targeted in 2004/05 and a further six in 2005/06. Eleven schools now have Travel Plans approved by the DfES and more plans will be submitted for approval in March 2006. Schemes have proved effective in reducing dependence upon the car. School Travel Advisors also work with the National PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy towards the national target to increase the percentage of 5 to 16 year olds who spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality physical exercise and school sport.

More schools in South Ribble will be targeted in 2006/07 and future years. They will be prioritised according to the number of pupils who travel to school by car, the potential for modal shift and links with the CiVITAS sustainable transport project being implemented in Preston and South Ribble.

4.4.25 About Chorley

Chorley lies within the corridors of development that run through Central Lancashire, from Preston to Wigan and Warrington and from Preston to Bolton and Manchester. West of Chorley the countryside extends into the West Lancashire Plain. To the east, development is restricted by the slope of Winter Hill, where Rivington Country Park is an attractive area for walking, cycling and riding. Yarrow Valley and Cuerden Valley Country Parks offer further opportunities for leisure activities.

Chorley town (population 33,420) is the principal centre for shopping and services. Smaller centres are Adlington (7,790), Euxton (7,690), Coppull (7,260) and Eccleston (4,710). With a total population of 103,000, the district has a population density of 507 people per square kilometre compared with 467 for Lancashire and 351 for England and Wales.

The economic growth of Chorley will be central to the prosperity of both Lancashire and the North West. In partnership with Preston and South Ribble, Chorley has commissioned a Core Strategy for the Core Central Lancashire Sub-region to provide an economic, education and planning framework to support the economic growth of the area over the long term. Local employment will promote local prosperity and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the district. An infrastructure to allow the efficient movement within the sub-region and further afield will be required for both goods and people.

The Local Transport Plan will support the particular objectives of Chorley to;

• strengthen its role as a market town
• improve links between the town centre and Buckshaw Village site
• secure future employment in the area
• provide a high quality of life for residents.

Several areas of Chorley were developed as part of the Central Lancashire New Town, including Clayton Green, Whittle-le-Woods and Astley Village. The construction of Gillibrand Link Road with funding from the private sector has opened up an area south of Chorley town for residential development and this will be continued with the construction of Eaves Green Link Road.

Buckshaw Village and Matrix Park at Euxton are among the 25 Strategic Regional Investment Sites listed in the Regional Economic Strategy as fundamental to the economic growth of the North West of England. Based on a former Royal Ordnance Factory site, over the next 15 years the area will grow into a mixed-use community with 2,000 homes and jobs for 6,000. Bus services have already been re-routed to serve the new centre and space has been reserved for a new railway station. The substantial provision of infrastructure in Buckshaw for travel on foot and by cycle gained the National Cycle Network Award for Excellence in 2005.

4.4.26 Local Services

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust divides its healthcare between two sites at Chorley and Preston, employing a total staff of 5,500. Access for staff and patients is a growing problem. The new Chorley Connect bus network will bring much easier access for Chorley residents who do not possess a car. The County Council is a member of the EU project Optimum2, a four year project ending in 2007 to improve access to urban sites. Working with the NHS Trust, we will develop a variety of measures, including cycling and bus services, to improve access for patients, visitors and staff to and between both sites. Through the Local Transport Partnership, the County Council has established the Red Rose Runner, a Dial-a-Ride bus service taking patients from rural areas to appointments for healthcare. Highway works linked to Matrix Park have produced road and cycleway improvements on the approaches to Chorley Hospital.

There are six High Schools in the district, five in Chorley and one in Croston. The nearest sixth form college is Runshaw College at Leyland, with alternatives in Preston, Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan. Working with the Rural Transport Partnership, we have introduced a Wheels to Learning project to help students overcome travel problems to the college. Runshaw has set up an Adult College in Chorley, and Lancashire College and the adjoining Woodlands Centre deliver adult learning courses and conference facilities.

4.4.27 Journey to Work

49.1% of employees live and work in Chorley. There is a large outflow of 25,060 to employment in neighbouring centres Preston, Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan plus Manchester and Liverpool. There is an inflow into Chorley of 12,440, giving a net outflow of 12,620 commuters.

Table 4.4.27 Journey to Work by Mode

	Working from home	Metro, light rail or tram	Train	Bus or coach	Motor cycle	Car driver	Pass enger	Taxi	Bicycle	On foot	Other
Chorley	9.3	0.1	1.8	3.3	1.0	65.5	7.3	0.4	1.8	9.2	0.4
Lancashire	9.0	0.1	1.0	6.3	1.0	59.4	8.0	0.8	2.4	11.5	0.5
North West	8.4	0.6	1.9	8.6	0.9	58.4	7.5	0.8	2.3	10.3	0.5
England & Wales	9.2	3.0	4.1	7.4	1.1	55.2	6.3	0.5	2.8	10.0	0.5

Workers living in the district rely heavily on the car for their journeys to work, more than the average for Lancashire. Train journeys are also higher than average, lifted by the number of commuters travelling to Bolton, Manchester and Preston. Bus journeys are below average, a proportion that can be increased by an improved network of local bus services. Cycling and walking are both below average. As journeys to work in Chorley are comparatively short - 24% are less than 2km and 44% less than 5km - there is potential to increase the number of journeys to work on foot and by cycle. A more extensive network of safe and convenient foot and cycleways will improve accessibility to workplaces as well as schools and other services.

20% of households in Chorley Borough do not possess a car, compared with 25% for Lancashire and 27% for England and Wales. However, wealth is not uniformly distributed. Although no SOAs fall within the bottom 10% nationally, there are areas where low car ownership makes access to services difficult, contributing to social exclusion. Improved local bus services will improve access to employment and services and help to increase social inclusion.

4.4.28 The Transport Network

Chorley Borough has good transport connections. It lies on the road and rail corridors from Preston to Manchester and over the Pennines to Yorkshire, and from Preston to Wigan and on to the Midlands and the south. East-west roads and a railway line run through the north of the district.

4.4.29 Roads

Chorley Borough is well placed within the motorway network and is crossed by the M6 running north-south, the M61 running to Manchester and the M65 leading east. Each has a junction within Chorley Borough and adjacent junctions give further access - the A49 meets M6 Junctions 27, 28 and 29, the A6 meets M61 Junctions 6, 8 and 9, the A6 meets M65 Junction 2 and the A674 and A675 meet M65 Junction 3. At motorway junctions, delays are increasingly likely as peak hour flows approach design capacity.

Principal roads run parallel to the motorways and provide an interurban network. The A6 from Preston to Manchester runs through Chorley, passing around the town centre, and the A49 to Wigan passes through Euxton just to the west of Chorley. The A581 leads to west Lancashire and the A674 to Blackburn and East Lancashire. The A675 climbs over Belmont to Bolton. Once again, congestion is the cause of delays at critical junctions at peak hours with unexpected growth on secondary routes such as Blackburn Road.

The A6 takes traffic around Chorley town centre which has been closed to through traffic. The pedestrian priority area around the market can now be extended to the main shopping street, bringing environmental benefits for residents and visitors. A car park management scheme monitors the occupancy of car parks and VMSs direct drivers to vacant spaces. A continuing programme of 20mph zones will increase road safety for vulnerable road users and raise the standard of the public r