CONSULTATION: Help shape the future of transport in the City Region

Local Transport Plan – Consultation

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is currently running a consultation on its draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) which closes on 15th December 2024.

This is REALLY important, so we’re encouraging everyone to respond, for the reasons we set out below.

To access the consultation, click here 

What is it?

The draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) outlines a vision for transport in the Liverpool City Region up to 2040 and, as noted in the consultation:

“It sets out how we will invest in public transport and the road and walking and cycling networks in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral to create a transport network that gives people more choices, is tough in the face of climate change, and helps us all to lead healthier and happier lives.”

Is it worth my time responding to it?

100% YES!!

The principles and goals of the LTP are fantastic and set out a path to a better Liverpool City Region, to be achieved through better transport decisions.

By getting involved in this process, you are adding to all the good work that’s already gone into this plan, so please take the time to respond.

Why is it relevant?

As we have seen throughout our years of campaigning, Metro Mayors like our own Steve Rotheram and the devolved authorities they represent are securing more and more money and decision-making powers.

Transport is no exception.

It is no exaggeration to say that future decisions around port access are likely to be made regionally, at the City Region level, not in Westminster or Whitehall, by the Department for Transport.

As a citizen of the Liverpool City Region, this is YOUR opportunity to express your views on how future transport decisions should be made.

In the consultation, you will see a lot of reference not only to transport, but also to jobs and economic prosperity, net zero goals, an improved environment, improved health and quality of life, as well as technology and innovation.

In other words, it’s possible to respond to this consultation in a way that emphasises how much you care about green space, clean air, biodiversity and climate by looking at these things through the lens of better transport decisions.

Many of these issues are inter-connected and better transport decisions hold the answer to lots of these challenges!

Isn’t it just about people and public transport?

In a word, ‘NO’.

The LCRCA’s vision is for: “Clean, safe and accessible transport for moving people and goods.”

The critical part here is obviously “goods”.

With Liverpool being a port city which generates so many HGV movements in South Sefton and adjoining boroughs, the new Local Transport Plan must come up with a way of addressing the challenges this presents in a sensible and sustainable manner.

One that is not just acceptable to the port and port-related businesses, but also to the communities they impact through their day-to-day operations.

By engaging with and responding to this consultation, there are opportunities for you to highlight the issues that continue to exist around the movement of freight and to demand a better outcome than what has been proposed to date.

If we don’t tackle the movement of freight with the same levels of energy and investment we’re seeing for people (public transport and active travel) we will never truly address this problem, and the spectre of a new port access road through Rimrose Valley will linger on under this, and future governments.

And, by “freight” we mean ALL forms of cargo which comes through the port, not just containers, which is what many people associate with the port. The LTP must therefore provide for the movement of containers, liquid bulk, dry bulk, and roll-on/roll-off freight.

How long does it take to respond?

We’re not going to lie – this consultation asks A LOT of questions, but the good news is that it’s all laid out well, with handy links for anyone wanting to understand the topic more.

As with many of the consultations we’ve seen over the years, most of the responses are multiple-choice options, but these are followed by sections where you can expand on the answers you’ve given – saying what you like and what you don’t like.

This is the most important part. It's your opportunity to talk about the issues that matter the most. Solving port access is arguably THE biggest transport issue here in South Sefton.

Write as little or as much as you want, depending on how passionate you are about what’s being asked.

All in all, we recommend you allow 15-30 minutes to complete this consultation from start to finish, in order to understand what’s being proposed, what’s being asked of you, and to provide a considered response.

Let’s get started!

Again, to access the consultation, click here

When responding, we don’t want to be too prescriptive, as they are looking for YOUR views on transport.

Try and make your response unique to you, so it isn’t dismissed as being part of a coordinated effort.

However, as we’re asking you to take part in this consultation to try to ensure a road through Rimrose Valley is never revisited, there are certain points we’d like you to mention in relation to the movement of goods, so we're sharing our responses for that purpose.

Please use these as guidance only.

After answering some questions about your travel behaviours and your demographic, you will be asked to give your views on the following...

The 8 principles which inform the LCRCA’s approach to the LTP

Under the 8 principles question, we have agreed that they will help the LCRCA deliver its goals.

However, we want them to make a specific mention of freight.

Our comment:

These are clear but we would like to see greater emphasis placed on the movement of freight in and out of the Port of Liverpool, with Liverpool being a port city. Much of the language used implies the movement of people. It would be great to see freight reflected in the principles, too.

The 5 goals (and the policies within each)

In responding to each of the 5 goals, you will be presented with several policy statements under each goal.

Click on “What we’re proposing” to read the details.

You will be asked whether you support or disagree with the policy, or if you’re unsure. You’ll then be asked what’s good about each policy statement, and/or any concerns you have.

Here, we list our response to each goal and the policies in them.

IMPORTANT: Not all of these relate to the movement of goods. In fact, the majority don’t. We’ve included our responses to every question for completeness only.  You will have your own views on public transport, active travel etc, so please share them.

GOAL 1: Support good, clean job growth and opportunity for all

Policy G1-1 Consider sustainable transport and movement in all we do as a Combined Authority

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: It is great to see transport being given such prominence across the board in all decisions of the LCRCA.

Concerns: We would like to see greater emphasis on the movement of goods in and out of the Port of Liverpool. The policy statement tags this on at the end, but it should have equal prominence and importance as the movement of people.

Policy G1-2 Prioritising measures and services that improve people’s access to opportunity

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: It is great to see transport being seen as an enabler for social mobility.

Concerns: None

Policy G1-3 Making it easier and cheaper to travel

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: Fantastic and long overdue. Excited to see the uptake in the use of public transport that will follow.

Concerns: None

Policy G1-4 Reviewing our travel support offer

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: Cost should never be a barrier to public transport and the social mobility that flows from it. This is great to see.

Concerns: None

GOAL 2: Achieve net-zero carbon and an improved environment

Policy G2-1 Removing carbon emissions from transport

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: Great to see so much emphasis on decarbonising public transport.

Concerns: The statement refers to road traffic. Is this purely related to public transport? If it means ALL road traffic, it needs to capture HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. These generate the biggest amount of CO2 emissions on our roads. This statement needs to expressly place a requirement on port operators and haulage companies to align with the CO2 goals set out in the LCRCA's new LTP. It would also be good to see reference made to the fact that that transport represents the UK's biggest emitter of CO2, with roads being responsible for much of this. There should be an assumption not to pursue new road schemes within the City Region, unless it can be shown how they would reduce CO2 emissions. This is in line with the Welsh Assembly's approach.

Policy G2-2 Delivering an integrated, sustainable mass transit network, tackling capacity problems and improving connectivity

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: Great to see this vision for changing our transport behaviour. Also great to see express mention of improving rail freight movements in between Liverpool and Manchester, as this is key to lessening the impact of the Port of Liverpool’s operations on South Sefton and removing freight from our roads.

Concerns: None

Policy G2-3 The role of shared mobility and micromobility

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: It is great to see an approach to tackling excessive car use and offering options to those who don't own, or don't want to own a car.

Concerns: Would like to see reference to incentivising large employment sites in the City Region to encourage car-sharing schemes within their workforce. Many people travel to the same work location by car alone. Tackling single-occupancy vehicle use has the potential to increase capacity on our road network in a rapid and economically efficient way.

Policy G2-4 Re-allocating road space and making best use of finite capacity

Our view: Strongly support

Good points: It is great to see an approach to prioritising other uses for our roads and tackling car dominance.

Concerns: This section needs to cross-reference the impact of HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. Without tackling the movement of freight, capacity on our road network will continue to be a challenge. HGVs take up considerably more space than cars. Reducing the amount of these on the A5036 and adjoining routes will mean more space for bus and cycle lanes. Current or increased volumes of port traffic in South Sefton will make this impossible. Again, car-sharing schemes should be referenced here as an easy way of increasing capacity.

Policy G2-5 A high quality, low carbon transport network in Liverpool City Centre and in our main towns

Our view: Support

Good: It would be good to see the city centre becoming a more pleasant place to get around.

Concerns: The knock-on effects to adjoining boroughs need to be considered, and major mitigation plans put in place. If, for example, the city centre is to become a no-go area for certain types of traffic - HGVs, vans etc - there is a risk that the issues will simply be displaced onto adjoining boroughs, who would 'take the hit' of improvements to conditions in the city centre. South Sefton cannot bear the brunt of these changes - we already suffer enough. Would like to know what consideration is being given to this and the potential of new 'rat runs' being created?

Policy G2-6 Delivering sustainable and efficient freight and logistics

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is fantastic to see this expressly included in the LTP and that it sets out a vision for a truly multi-modal approach, with a shift away from the current reliance on road. Great to see pollution and the impact on communities and the environment acknowledged. Also great to see that the provision of R&R facilities for drivers has been captured, as this currently generates anti-social behaviours in South Sefton which creates issues for both drivers and local residents. These facilities must be located away from residential areas – ideally near the motorway network.

Concerns: Would like this it to go further and expressly rule out ANY new road for moving freight in the future, avoiding a repeat of National Highways' cancelled Port of Liverpool Access Road which threatened essential green space in South Sefton. In addition to statements a, b and c and reference to rail, sea, rivers or canals, we would also like to see reference made to new, innovative port logistics technologies, such as those contained in the 2020 Inland Port Connectivity Concept report commissioned by Sefton Council and produced by ARUP. It includes freight pipeline technology, overhead container transfer and automated guided vehicles; all of which could be tunnelled underground to an inland logistics hub near the strategic road network, removing a large proportion of HGVs from the current A5036 port access route.

Policy G2-7 Implementing “polluter pays” approaches

Our view: Support

Good: This is good in principle, but more information is needed. Where will the funds generated go, for example?

Concerns: Unless implemented properly, this policy risks targeting the 'regular' person, not those responsible for the majority of the most polluting traffic on our roads. This section needs to cross-reference the impact of HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. These generate the biggest amount of pollution on our roads, impacting public health. This statement needs to expressly state that road haulage companies, and companies with their own fleet of HGVs, will be subject to the polluter pays principle, with higher rates applied to them.

GOAL 3: Improve health and quality of life

Policy G3-1 Reinforcing “Vision Zero” and Safe Systems approaches – no deaths or serious injuries on the city region’s roads by 2040

Our view: Strongly support

Good: This is a fantastic commitment to road safety.

Concerns: Without a huge, hard-hitting and prolonged marketing campaign to back this up, there is a risk that people won't understand the changes being delivered and fight against them, seeing them as an 'attack on motorists'. Everything needs to be clearly explained in advance, securing public buy-in, so that the transition is as smooth as possible. In South Sefton, we have seen opposition to a proposed extension to our cycling network, which didn't go ahead as a result. This will continue unless messaging around WHY the schemes are being proposed is vastly improved.

Policy G3-2 Delivering clean, healthy travel and placemaking in all we do

Our view: Strongly support

Good: This is a fantastic vision for how we will move around the city region and the potential it has to be a much more pleasant experience.

Concerns: This section needs to cross-reference the impact of HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. The goals set out in this policy are really difficult to achieve in South Sefton which sees so much HGV traffic from the Port of Liverpool. Without feeling safe, or at risk of breathing in harmful fumes and particulate matter, active travel remains a risk that many people aren’t willing to take, with the most direct routes to walk, cycle, or scooter being shared with HGVs. As with G3-1 above, there must be a prolonged marketing campaign, explaining everything in before, during and after these changes.

Policy G3-3 Improving air quality from transport

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is great to see an acknowledgement of the state of air quality in the City Region. South Sefton has some of the worst levels of pollution in the country and we are in urgent need of measures to improve this.

Concerns: This section needs to cross-reference the impact of HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. Introducing measures to encourage an uptake in the use of public transport and active travel is fantastic, but it doesn’t address the fact that HGVs are the scourge of South Sefton’s roads and generate the worst emissions from exhaust fumes and particulate matter from tyre and brake dust. We would like to see the issues surrounding HGVs expressly mentioned here, not just diesel and petrol vehicles.

Policy G3-4 Making transport safe, inclusive, attractive and reassuring for the user

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is fantastic to see the issues of safety and risk of crime being addressed in the LTP, particularly with reference to vulnerable groups.

Concerns: None

GOAL 4: Transport that’s well maintained and tough

Policy G4-1 Well maintained transport infrastructure informed by good data

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is great to see the Combined Authority stepping up to address the state of roads on the Key Route Network. This network includes the A5036. There has been a complete dereliction of duty under National Highways' stewardship of this route in recent years and decades and we hope this marks a fresh approach. We hope that this intervention also improves the state of roads Local Authorities are responsible for which are also poorly maintained, presumably because of cuts in funding from central government.

Concerns: This section needs to cross-reference the impact of HGVs and port traffic, covered by Policy G2-6. The A5036 is the main port access route in South Sefton and falls under the category of the Key Route Network. Communities living alongside this route suffer from air, noise, light and vibration pollution. Much more can be done to improve their living conditions through proper maintenance and management of this route and the introduction of measures to reduce the impact of HGV traffic. It would be good to such issues expressly mentioned here.

Policy G4-2 Delivering transport that can withstand the effects of climate change

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is great to see the Combined Authority stepping up to address the impact climate change is having on our local transport systems. We recently experienced severe flooding in Seaforth and Bootle after heavy downpours. Our drainage was inadequate and this needs to be addressed. Similarly, rising sea levels will threaten coastal walkways, cycle paths and even our roads and rail services in years to come. We need to be ready.

Concerns: None

Policy G4-3 Ensuring that we develop and maintain infrastructure in a sustainable way

Our view: Strongly support

Good: Great to see the LCRCA prioritising sustainable development when it comes to transport.

Concerns: None

GOAL 5: Plan and respond to uncertainty and change and be innovative

Policy G5-1 Testing options and proposals against uncertainty and change

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is great to learn that the LCRCA is not baking in a dependency on cars and roads, or an assumption that car use will continue to grow. This is in sharp contrast to the metrics used by National Highways and is a welcome change.

Concerns: None

Policy G5-2 Piloting options, trials and new technologies in a climate of uncertainty and change

Our view: Strongly support

Good: It is great to see a commitment to innovation to solve some of our transport challenges. This is particularly relevant in relation to the movement of goods, covered by Policy G2-6. Innovation is key to solving the challenges that exist around port access in South Sefton, removing HGVs from our roads, freeing up road space and improving air quality. Piloting technologies which could address this challenge would be well received by local residents. A good starting point is Sefton Council’s 2020 ARUP Report titled the Inland Port Connectivity Concept.

Concerns: None

Policy G5-3 A Smart City Region – Investing in new technologies and utilising Artificial Intelligence

Our view: Strongly support

Good: Great to see the intention to make the most of technological advances, and the specific mention of freight, as this has the biggest impact on our roads in South Sefton.

Concerns: None