5 Major Scheme Proposals
Introduction
This chapter sets out the Major Schemes. It describes the issues surrounding each scheme and how the solutions we propose fit strategically. A description of each scheme, its cost and how we ensure value for money is also provided.
Regional Prioritisation
Government Office for the North West together with the North West Regional Assembly have undertaken a scheme prioritisation of all major schemes in the North West covering LTP proposals and regional trunk road schemes. This Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) process has put forward a number of schemes as priorities for the North West.
Lancashire is involved in the development of three schemes within this priority list, the Heysham to M6 Link, the Blackpool to Fleetwood Tramway (jointly with Blackpool Borough Council) and the East Lancashire Rapid Transit proposals (Jointly with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council).
Major scheme bids have been submitted for the Heysham to M6 Link and the Blackpool to Fleetwood Tramway and scheme development of the East Lancashire Rapid Transit continues.
Whilst there is a broad acceptance that the proposed regional priorities contain the most significant schemes for the region, there is concern that the process does favour larger schemes and does not take full account of local priorities. The process has been undertaken on a short timescale and is based on very limited data and there is a need for further detailed consideration of some schemes. There is also a need for some analysis of the potential for the combined benefits of a number of smaller schemes to outweigh the benefits of some major investment proposals. These concerns will be raised with Ministers and through the formal consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy.
Lancashire has a number of major scheme proposals that were ranked in the lower quartiles of the Regional Priorities. There is considerable local concern over the status of these schemes and the position will be reviewed as the final position following the outcome of the consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy.