Officials in charge of public transport reforms in Lincolnshire have vowed to tackle issues in all parts of the county – following concerns that rural areas could be ignored.
The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) is creating a local transport plan which aims to improve the frequency, reliability and quality of public transport across the county.
But at a GLCCA overview and scrutiny committee meeting last week some councillors raised concerns about the timescale of the plans and whether they would address problems in all parts of the county.
Coun Joshua Wells asked how the transport plan was aiming to tackle transport issues in rural areas.
“From what I understand, obviously each constituent member will deliver their own delivery plan effectively,” he said.
“How local is that plan? The reason I ask that question is because the county of Lincolnshire is quite large.
“You’re talking about 700,000 plus people and there are different communities within that county area. How local is that going to be? How are we going to meet the needs across the county?
“Because the issues that residents will face in villages are very different to the issues that people face in Lincoln, for example.
“How is the transport plan going to cater for the needs of the wider community given Lincolnshire is so vast.”
Chair Andy Quarmby, questioned what was being done to prevent the plan from being delayed.
He said: “It’s an 18 month plan. What happens if it slips and what are the key risks to the timescale?”
Lana Meddings, transport and growth manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The greater Lincolnshire local plan is obviously the strategic plan so obviously it will be setting high level themes, strategies and overviews.
“We will then be working with the constituent authorities, stakeholders and local residents in terms of what will actually be delivered on the ground and that will be an evolving process, as and when funding becomes available and as and when priorities are identified.”
Ms Meddings went on to say that the GLCCA was working hard to avoid any delays to the implementation of the local transport plan.
“I think the key risks at the minute will be capacity within the combined authority and within each of the constituent authorities in terms of delivering this.
“But, since the last meeting, there’s now a dedicated transport lead within the combined authority.”
