Lancashire's blueprint for future transport links must be "ambitious" and "unique" to secure the necessary funding, local business leaders say. As politicians work on a local transport plan, the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) - established earlier this year to implement the area's devolution deal - is next year set to assume local public transport powers from Lancashire County Council and Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils.
The LCCA will also propose a transport investment strategy on behalf of all three councils. However, senior council figures were cautioned at a recent meeting not to limit their ambitions.
A report from the Lancashire Business Board (LBB) acknowledged "the need for a traditional response", but the group, comprising 17 members of the business community and private sector in Lancashire, also suggested that "more reference ought to be made to newer and more innovative methods of transport and mobility".
The Lancashire Business Board (LBB) has called for an "ambitious" transport plan that sets the county apart from other areas nationally.
The board also requested a broader range of consultees to be involved in the document's development process.
This comes as government funding for transport projects is increasingly directed towards areas with a mayor, leaving Lancashire empty-handed when ministers recently allocated £15.6bn for transport initiatives to mayor-led combined authorities, including neighbouring Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.
Delivery dates for both a draft and final version of the Lancashire local transport plan are yet to be confirmed by the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA).
Phil Riley, LCCA member and leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, stated at a meeting that progress had been made prior to last month's local elections, and the team working on the plan was eager to resume work.
Stephen Atkinson, chair of the combined county authority, assured that his Reform º£½ÇÊÓƵ group, which now controls Lancashire County Council, would "very quickly" nominate the necessary representatives to facilitate this.
