RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION

INTEGRATED & INTERCONNECTED PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN EAST LANCASHIRE

The Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership welcomes "The Public Consultation on proposed new bus improvements in East Lancashire". (Leader & Times, 3rd April 2026). 

This should be part of an integrated and interconnected Public Transport Plan for East Lancashire and beyond, which reflects National & County Council Policies: 

·  Government Transport Policy centres around the importance of rail connectivity as the key driver for economic growth as well promoting rail travel to reduce pollution on roads and meet the targets for the Decarbonisation of Transport; 

·  The revised National Planning Policy Framework encourages planners and developers to build affordable housing close rail and bus interchanges/hubs, accessible by foot or bike for those who cannot afford to buy new houses or run cars;

·  Lancashire Combined County Authority's Local Transport Plan focuses on rail connectivity linking to bus public transport to give access of education, training, jobs for those in deprived as well as rural areas without a car. Pendle, Burnley and Hyndburn have very low levels of average household incomes and Pendle one of the highest levels of child poverty.

·  This also fits in with the emerging LCCA Growth Plan 2025-2035, which focuses on the area of the County between the deprived areas of Blackpool and East Lancashire, which follow the route of the railway;

·  LCCA is transforming East Lancashire with major Active Travel investments of £55 million, some of which is Levelling Up funding, targeting walking and cycling infrastructure, which will enable residents to access local Public Transport Hubs.

Dave Penney

SELRAP Executive

Highfield, 21 Keighley Road, Colne BB8 0LP