Share your views on new roads for Preston

Lancashire County Council is consulting on the plans for the Preston Western Distributor and East West Link Road.

The scheme includes a new road linking Preston and southern Fylde to the M55, and two new roads connecting to new and existing housing areas of North West Preston and Cottam.

This consultation is part of preparations for the planning application, which is expected to be made in March.

The proposals will help to promote new housing and business development in the area, while increasing capacity on the existing local road network.

There'll also be opportunities for new bus priority measures, improvements to local public areas and improvements to encourage walking and cycling.

The consultation takes place from 4 January until 12 February 2016.

During this time the county council will hold a series of public exhibition events for people to find out more about the plans.

The events will be at:
• Preston Grasshoppers, Lightfoot Green Lane on Wednesday 13 January, from 10am to 8pm.
• Ashton and Lea Golf Club in the Dining Room on Monday 18 January, from 10am to 8pm.
• Preston Grasshoppers, Lightfoot Green Lane on Wednesday 20 January, from 10am to 8pm.

You can also complete an online questionnaire at www.lancashire.gov.uk/haveyoursay. Select 'Preston Western Distributor and East West Link Road consultation' and click on the link to take part.

The county council has written to around 8,000 residents in the area to ask their views.

This scheme is possible thanks to funding from central government, via the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.

The City Deal will help to deliver new infrastructure, new homes and more jobs over the next ten years.

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "People are invited to come along and find out more about these plans. You'll be able to share your views and speak to representatives from the county council who are involved in delivering the road scheme.

"We're pleased that the public will get the chance to help to shape these plans, which will bring about housing developments in this part of the city.

"Following this consultation we will consider your comments to see if any improvements could be made, before the planning application is made later this year."

The proposed Preston Western Distributor is a 4.3km dual carriageway linking the A583 at Lea to the M55 at Bartle with a new motorway junction.

The East West Link Road would be a 3.4km long single carriageway road linking Lightfoot Lane to the Preston Western Distributor.

As part of the Preston Western Distributor, a single carriageway link road will be created to Cottam Way. The Cottam Link Road will join the Preston Western Distributor just north of the Lancaster Canal.

Subject to planning approval, work is scheduled to start on the East-West Link Road in 2016/2017 and on the Preston Western Distributor in 2017/2018.

The City Deal is an agreement between the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, along with central government and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

City Deal will help to create more than 20,000 new private sector jobs and see over 17,000 new homes built across the area, along with new school places, open green spaces and new health provision to cater for the growing population.

For more information visit www.lancashirelep.co.uk/city-deal, email [email protected] or follow the work on twitter @LancsCityDeal.

For further information please contact: Stephen Axon on 01772 533 194 [email protected]