Onward March: Combined Authority puts full weight behind Broad Street

Onward March: Combined Authority puts full weight behind Broad Street

Members of the Combined Authority’s Board have unanimously voted through funding to start construction of the main Broad Street scheme in the Fenland market town of March.

The March Area Transport Study Full Business Case 1 (FBC1) for Broad Street has been completed and Members approved the drawdown of £300,000 to complete the Full Business Case 2 (FBC2). This focusses on St Peter’s Road, Peas Hill, and Twenty Foot Road.

The Board also voted through the vital £4,149,825 to build the Broad Street Scheme.

The MATS Broad Street Scheme has a ‘Very High Value for Money’ benefit-cost rating and the plans tie in with the objectives of national, regional, and local policies.

• The need for regeneration in March Town Centre.
• The need to address existing traffic congestion and safety issues.
• The need to facilitate housing and employment growth across March.
• The need to improve local environmental conditions

The MATS Broad Street Scheme cuts the share of road space for motor vehicles and puts in an additional uncontrolled crossing on Broad Street to improve pedestrian accessibility. It aims to promote active and sustainable travel in March’s historic town centre and improve quality of life.

The MATS Broad Street project and the March Future High Street projects are intrinsically linked, and one cannot be built successfully without the other.

Funding for the other schemes in MATS will be explored in FBC2.

The Combined Authority’s support strongly underpins Fenland District Council’s vision for the area as outlined within its Local Plan, published in 2014 – ‘to maximise the potential of the area and deliver jobs, skills, improved housing and new infrastructure’, and make the district ‘a better place to live, work and visit.’