Mayor’s vision for Fens: Carry an essential concern

Mayor Palmer underlines transport connections as key to success for Fenland

PUBLISHED: 14:03 16 October 2017 | UPDATED: 14:03 16 October 2017

Fens Transport Conference: Pictured at the conference are, from left, Cllr Ian Bates, chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s economy and environment committee; Combined Authority Mayor James Palmer; Wendy Otter, Fenland District Council’s Transport Development Manager; Chris Leech, Business Community Manager for CrossCountry; Hayley Bull, Stakeholder Liaison Manager for CrossCountry; Cllr Simon King, FDC’s Portfolio Holder for Transport; and Alan Neville from Greater Anglia.

A transport conference was told that Fenland holds the key to unlocking the potential of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Mayor James Palmer told the conference – held at the GER Club, March on Thursday – that “one of my top priorities is to fight and lobby for Fenland to get the investment it needs into its transport infrastructure”.

He said this could involve the rail line to Wisbech, the M11 extension “or an A47 that is fully dualled between Peterborough and Wisbech.

“Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will only achieve its full economic potential if Fenland achieves its full economic potential and this will only happen if we are prepared to overhaul transport infrastructure, both road and rail across the area.”

Mayor Palmer was among the guest speakers at the event, organised by the Fenland Transport and Access Group (TAG) with support and sponsorship from train operator CrossCountry.

Chris Leech, CrossCountry’s business community manager, also told how CrossCountry was investing in its network and working with local Community Rail Partnerships to make a positive impact on the communities they serve.

He said: “CrossCountry, alongside our industry partners Network Rail and Greater Anglia understand just how important rail services can be for the communities we serve.

“This conference marks a great foundation for Fenland District Council’s development of a new transport strategy. We look forward to working them on its implementation, helping deliver further benefits to this important community.”

The conference also shared information on existing transport services and included workshops and group discussions on how they can be developed while improving access for people with transport difficulties. Visitors were also given an early opportunity to help develop a new transport strategy for Fenland.

Findings from the conference will now be reviewed over the next few weeks.

The conference was also supported by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, Cambridgeshire County Council, Wisbech Town Council, Care Network and other local community groups and organisations.

Simon King, Fenland District Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said: “The Transport Conference was an extremely successful and positive event.

“I’d particularly like to thank Wendy Otter (the council’s transport development manager), and her transport colleagues for organising this inaugural event and also partners and everyone who came along on the day to support it.”

Source

http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk:80/news/mayor-backs-major-transport-initiatives-for-fenland-1-5238433

source http://taxi.nearme.host/mayors-vision-for-fens-carry-an-essential-concern/