Cumbria County Council is to publish its Transport Infrastructure Plan (CTIP) 2022 – 2037.
The CTIP was developed by the council and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) and describes the role of transportation and connectivity in supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in Cumbria.
The plan outlines a vision for improving transport and infrastructure in Cumbria so that residents, businesses, visitors, and our natural environment can all benefit. The plan also outlines how Cumbria can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and the ongoing recovery from the Covid pandemic.
Although the plan sets out a number of clear ambitions, their delivery depends upon the availability of Government funding and the support of partner organisations.
CTIP’s objectives are:
- Clean and Healthy Cumbria – Encouraging active travel and digital infrastructure as enablers of inclusive economic growth, promoting health and well-being, and decarbonising transport.
- Connected Cumbria – Promoting improved transport networks across and into Cumbria to connect our places, support economic growth, and open opportunities for businesses and communities.
- Community Cumbria – Promoting integrated approaches to transport, supporting opportunity and renewal in local towns and communities in Cumbria with better transport that improves social inclusion.
Cllr Keith Little, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Cumbria has huge potential and great ambition for the future. Provision of an effective transport network that meets the needs of its current residents, businesses and visitors and helps attract and retain new ones, is essential in unlocking this potential.
“The CTIP is an important step toward this, setting out key objectives for improving travel in the county, and I’d like to thank everyone for giving their feedback and views during the public consultation.”
Dr Steve Curl, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) Board Member with responsibility for Transport and Infrastructure, said: “The vision of the CTIP is to make Cumbria one of the best-connected rural geographies in the UK, addressing the key issues of mobility for all travellers on all modes of transport, as well as alternatives to travelling, including digital connectivity. Decarbonisation of all forms of transport, including freight, is a key thread running through the Plan.”
“Implementation of funded projects detailed in the CTIP will put in place the integrated and resilient infrastructure that is key to sustainable and inclusive growth. This will benefit all our communities and every sector of our economy, whilst mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. I encourage everyone, and especially our partner organisations, to support the plan and work together to ensure it becomes reality.”
