Last chance to have your say on a better future for March

Last chance to have your say on a better future for March

Time is running short for people to make their voices heard on a better future for March.

Those who live, work or regularly visit March are encouraged to enter an innovative virtual consultation room to give their views on ways to tackle congestion, encourage more cycling and walking and create a more vibrant town centre.

The March Area Transport Study (MATS) consultation has kept to its timetable during lockdown thanks to the technology commissioned by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.

Virtual information boards will explain to the public a range of possible improvements to the town, in a digital survey room which offers the same look and feel of a conventional public consultation. People are encouraged to not just look around, but also to leave feedback through a quick and simple form that will help inform the next steps.

Joint working between local councillors, the Mayoral Combined Authority, Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council has brought the MATS to its current phase.

The consultation is live now via https://futuremarch.consultation.ai/ and closes on Sunday, June 28. People can go straight to the survey form via: https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/future-march/survey_tools/future-march

Those who do not have internet access or would prefer not to engage in this way will not miss out. A conventional face-to-face consultation will take place in the town when public health guidelines allow. Details will be issued in due course.

Mayor James Palmer said:

“We want to hear from anyone who lives, works, or visits March and their feedback really will make a difference to the town’s future.

“It’s quick and easy to use and the proposed changes to roads and the town centre, as well as ways to make cycling and walking more attractive, are clearly laid out.

“This online consultation platform really is a huge leap forward in how we engage with community and people have been really impressed so far.

“The survey is part of a package of improvements to March, including more rail services at an upgraded station and our Masterplan work which will support the regeneration of the town overall.”

Options for improvements being consulted on include:

• A new Northern Industrial Link Road to reduce congestion and improve journeys
• Improving safety and reducing congestion on the A141
• Making the town centre more pedestrian friendly, including redesigning Broad Street to be more attractive to visitors and repositioning the Coronation Fountain to be a more accessible feature.
• A series of simple, speedy improvements to improve traffic flows and safety for all, including new pedestrian crossings, footways, speed restrictions and signage.
• Improvements to accessibility and safety to encourage more walking and cycling, especially for shorter journeys, to reduce car use.

A report on the consultation findings will be presented to the town, district and county councils.

A business case will follow this study and will be submitted to the Mayoral Combined Authority to seek further funding to deliver the schemes. The upgrades will provide infrastructure needed to support planned housing and jobs growth.

This transport study also supports other schemes to rejuvenate March including the Mayoral Combined Authority’s Fenland Stations Regeneration Programme and the March Masterplan for Growth, part of the Growing Fenland market towns scheme being developed in partnership with Fenland District Council.

For more information, please contact the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Communications Team comms@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk