Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

The provision of a high quality integrated transport system is fundamental to the regeneration and sustainability objectives of this Plan, underpinning the local economy and providing a choice of transport linking homes with jobs and services. A key aim is to provide sustainable alternatives to the use of the car as a mode of transport, thereby increasing social inclusion for those who do not own, or have access to, a car. The use of more sustainable modes of transport will also reduce energy use and the generation of greenhouse gases. As a result the use of new clean renewable technology to power transport will be encouraged. The Council recognises the importance of providing good quality transport in rural and semi-rural areas of the Borough as well as in the urban areas (including the provision of services that create access for all to good interchange facilities). A Merseyside wide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on Transport is currently under preparation and is intended to complement the policies in this chapter.

Knowsley contains a number of important strategic transport corridors, including four rail routes and several major highways. There is also an extensive network of bus routes and public rights of way, and a rail freight terminal at Knowsley Industrial Park. Some transport facilities outside Knowsley are also important to residents and businesses within the Borough. These include Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the rail network, the Port of Liverpool and the Runcorn-Widnes Mersey Crossing.

The Merseyside Local Transport Plan (see “Key Issues and Influences” - chapter 2) contains a number of important public transport programmes and proposals, which will affect Knowsley. As part of this, Quality Bus Partnerships and Quality Bus Contracts will be developed with bus operators to help achieve a step change in the image, quality and attractiveness of bus travel across Merseyside as specified in the section on Public Transport in the Merseyside Local Transport Plan. As part of the second Local Transport Plan, a Merseyside Accessibility Strategy will be published to ensure adequate access for all to employment, education, health opportunities. A Merseyside Bus Strategy will also be prepared to supplement and strengthen this element of the Merseyside Local Transport Plan.

Public Transport Programmes/Proposals which will affect Knowsley
• Proposed Merseytram system; • A Centre of Excellence programme for Public Transport and Transport Planning; • Network wide station improvement; • A new railway station at Headbolt Lane, Kirkby (in the ten year strategy); • County wide provision of interchange points; and • Park and Ride facilities at main rail stations and at strategic sites on the edge of the conurbation. • Quality Bus Partnerships, Quality Bus Contracts and their associated Quality Bus Corridors • Liverpool South Parkway multi-modal transport interchange (N.B. located outside the Borough but will affect Knowsley as it will improve access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport) • A new bus station in Kirkby Source: Merseyside Local Transport Plan 2001

Whilst acknowledging the role of walking, cycling and public transport, the Local Transport Plan also stresses the importance of the road network. The freight strategy within the Local Transport Plan identifies a number of important highways as Freight Priority Routes, and also identifies some locations on the network at which significant congestion/delays and/or conflicts with the environment of local communities occur. These include the M62/M57/A5300 Junction (the “Tarbock Interchange”) and the A580 corridor. A programme of junction capacity and environmental enhancements is being developed for these locations.

Freight Priority routes in Knowsley
• M57 • M62 • A5300 (Knowsley Expressway) • A561 (Speke Boulavard) • A580 (East Lancs Road) • Moorgate Road, South Boundary Road and North Perimeter Road (Kirkby Industrial Park) Source: Merseyside Local Transport Plan 2001

The Local Transport Plan stresses the need to maximise the use of rail for the transport of freight. The rail freight network for Merseyside includes all the railway lines within Knowsley, and the rail freight terminal within Knowsley Industrial Park. Potential opportunities exist for the expansion of the rail freight terminal. The Merseyside Freight Study (published May 2000) also emphasises the important role that rail has to play in the transport of freight both now and in the future. It encourages the sustainable distribution of freight generally and as part of this the development of Freight Quality Partnerships (see Glossary) where appropriate. A new Merseyside Freight Strategy is being prepared based on the findings of this Merseyside Freight Study.

The most sustainable forms of transport are walking and cycling and can bring great benefits by encouraging and promoting exercise and healthy living. The Merseyside Walking Strategy (published June 2002) has been produced to supplement the Merseyside Local Transport Plan. The aim is to give greater emphasis and priority to pedestrian needs and thereby encourage greater use of walking for work, social, shopping, school trips, and for recreational purposes. A Merseyside Cycling Strategy is also being drafted.

Proposals are currently being developed for the provision of a new Mersey road crossing linking Runcorn with Widnes. The Council is very supportive of this scheme, which will bring much needed improvements to the strategic road network serving the Merseyside and Halton area.

Under Government forecasts, there is likely to be a significant increase in air travel over the Plan period. This may require an increased role for Liverpool John Lennon Airport as outlined in the Aviation White Paper (published December 2003). The Council recognises the importance of the airport to Merseyside’s economy. The Airport’s Surface Access Strategy (Issue 3 of which was published in April 2004) encourages the use of all modes of transport, including public transport and other sustainable modes, to gain access to the Airport. As part of the Airport Surface Access Strategy, options are currently being evaluated for the provision of an access road to link the airport with the A562 in the south of the Borough, however these plans are insufficiently defined at this stage to show on the Proposals Map. Further transport and related infrastructure developments may be needed if the airport is to achieve its full potential. Also the development of the Liverpool South Parkway multi-modal transport interchange is included as a major scheme in the Merseyside Local Transport Plan and is designed to enhance access for all to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the surrounding area.