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Last chance to submit views on transport priorities in the north

How Darlington station might look if multi-million pound plans to revamp it are implemented.

Transport for the North (TfN) has made a final call for the public to share their thoughts on its draft Strategic Transport Plan before the public consultation ends on Tuesday 17 April.

The consultation has been running for 13 weeks and seen TfN representatives visit 33 towns and cities across the north of England as part of engagement events aimed at sharing its 30-year vision for transformational transport investment.

TfN’s Strategic Transport Plan is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the north need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England. The plan is aimed at rebalancing the UK’s economy through a sustained 30-year programme of transport infrastructure investment that could deliver a £100bn economic boost and 850,000 additional jobs by 2050.

Barry White, chief executive of TfN, said: “Over the last three months we’ve travelled right across the north to hear from the people who matter, those in the region and who are directly impacted by current transport restrictions. Like us, people feel passionately about improving the connectivity of the north to allow us to function on a level playing field with the rest of the UK. The feedback we have received will play a crucial role in the development of the Strategic Transport Plan before its final release later this year. 

“The consultation is a unique opportunity for those living and working in the north to have their say on what matters to them in their areas with the potential of actually shaping the transport agenda. I’d encourage people to take up the opportunity to submit their feedback while they have the chance.”

People and organisations can share their thoughts on the proposals outlined in the draft Strategic Transport Plan by filling in a questionnaire online or by emailing feedback to transportplanconsultation@ipsos-mori.com 

The public consultation closes on Tuesday 17 April 2018. A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the government for ministerial consideration.

If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.