Statement by Mayor Dr Nik Johnson on the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan

Statement by Mayor Dr Nik Johnson on the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan

The following is a statement by Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson following today’s (May 31) Combined Authority Board meeting.

“In today’s Combined Authority Board meeting, it was agreed to defer a report recommending approval of a plan to transform our transport future.

“The Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP) sets the vision, goals, objectives, strategies and policies to help make transport in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough better, faster, safer, more reliable, and less polluting.

“The LTCP and its associated documents were tabled for discussion today. They are the result of over 18 months of work by the Combined Authority, collaborating closely with our constituent councils. There has been a significant amount of engagement with stakeholders, the public, delivery bodies and our constituent councillors and officers, which is detailed in the appendix to the report to the Board.

“As was commented in the meeting, the LTCP has been on the agenda in nine strategic meetings of the Combined Authority Board, six Transport Committees and four Combined Authority Boards at its various stages of development.

“But at a late stage it became clear that further work with the Combined Authority Board and constituent councils is needed to develop the LTCP further. Therefore, and to ensure a timely approval of this very important transport plan, I put forward a motion to defer the item to allow that further work to take place.

“It should also be noted that we have received positive feedback from peers, sub-national transport bodies, neighbouring authorities and government on the quality and content of the LTCP, and how it meets the wider aims of the area, as well as nationally.

“It is important to say that this deferral will not pause our work on ongoing transport projects across the region. We will continue to focus on delivery while we work behind the scenes to fine tune the LTCP and bring back to the Board a document which is agreeable.

“We all know that transport in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough needs to be much better. The LTCP sets out a future for transport which will grow our economy, support our communities, boost prosperity, health and wellbeing, protect our environment, and support our ambitions for a net zero carbon future.”