We’re thinking transport and you can help shape the future.
Tell us how you feel when travelling around the borough, why you’re travelling – and, importantly, how you’d prefer to get around in the future.
What you say will help paint an overall picture of what local communities need and want – and enable us to influence decisions and lobby for the improvements on your behalf.
“An effective transport network can unlock the potential of Wigan Borough and its people,” said Cllr David Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration.
“While there have been many improvements to our transport infrastructure in recent years, we are still a long way from where we need to be.
“Everybody who travels in and out of this borough knows that there is room for improvement. If we do nothing traffic and congestion will continue to grow, there’ll be greater delays, higher costs and more damage to our health and environment.
“Wigan Borough needs a transport network that can meet the challenges of a growing economy and the demand for travel – without compromising our health and environment. With your help we can move quickly to understand those challenges and share the solutions.”
What are your aspirations and priorities? Have your say at Wigan Council - On The Move from Monday 20th June or come along to one of the roadshows across the borough (see local press for details).
Wigan on the move – the challenges
Rail: Wigan is a key hub of the regional rail network, with links including north and south via the West Coast Main Line, and east and west on local lines.
The last decade saw exceptional growth, particularly on the Wigan-Bolton-Manchester corridor, with knock-on effects for overcrowding.
We need a rail network that provides fast, reliable and efficient services, especially for inter-urban journeys and commuting into large urban areas.
Buses: In the weekday morning peak thousands of adults and schoolchildren travel on buses, removing thousands of car trips from our roads that would otherwise make congestion much worse. We need bus services that are reliable, flexible, convenient and tailored to local needs.
Cycling: Across the whole of Greater Manchester cycling levels increased by 17 per cent between 2005 and 2009. In Wigan, there have been pockets of even greater success, with annual growth on the Whelley Loop Line at about 25 per cent. However, cycling still only represents about 1 per cent of all traffic – even though two thirds of all journeys across the borough are fewer than five miles. We need to make cycling a real alternative for local trips.
Walking: Everyday, people choose to walk… to school, to the local shop, to the park, out with the dog, even if it is just a short walk to the bus stop or to the car. But sometimes time and convenience play a stronger role in decisions for short, local trips and walking frequently gets left behind. Walking is often ideal for short journeys and can have significant health benefits and make a real difference to local communities.
Roads: Locations in and around the M6 and A580 are attractive propositions for businesses, but the poor access and congestion that characterises some areas of the borough deters investment and job creation. We need a road network that provides a reliable, free-flowing service for both personal travel and freight, with people able to make informed choices about how and when they travel.
Have your say at: Wigan Council - On The Move
