Plans put together to boost transport levels
Transport experts have warned major improvements need to be made to bus services and transport facilities in the south of Northamptonshire.
Members of South Northamptonshire Council's cabinet will next week discuss the authority's transport strategy for 2010 to 2012, which warns many people in the south of the county currently struggle with limited public transport services and says more must be done to encourage residents not to use their cars.
In documents which will be presented to the authority's cabinet during a meeting at the council's headquarters in Towcester on January 11, the council's head of strategic policy, Adrian Colwell, said the authority needed to work closely with both the Highways Agency, other councils and bus operators to improve transport facilities in South Northamptonshire.
He said: "The district enjoys excellent transport links by road and also by rail to many parts of the UK.
"However, within the district there are some key transport issues and national implications.
"Traffic growth has seen a major impact on air quality in urban areas of the district, specifically Towcester town centre.
"There is serious congestion around key transport nodes such as the A5/A43 and the A5/A508 interchanges at peak times.
"The district also has pockets of isolated rural populations for whom transport is a major concern, and for some simply not available."
The council has said it hopes its transport plan will improve the number of travel options available for people in South Northamptonshire by offering 'viable alternatives to the private car'.
It has said it will also explore the 'gaps' in public transport services in the south of the county.
The council's cabinet will discuss the transport plan on Monday January 11 with the document expected to be put out for public consultation later in the year.
The authority has said it hopes the plan will build on other work already carried out by the council, including studies into both concessionary bus fares and existing housing expansion schemes.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
