Coun Matthew Tomlinson, County Hall's sustainable development boss, believes a Lancashire equivalent of powerful passenger transport executives (PTEs) seen in areas like Greater Manchester would give the county a bigger voice on the national stage.

Coun Tomlinson admitted earlier this year there is no-one in overall charge of transport in the county.

He said: "Most politicians recognise that to have a passenger transport executive would be greatly advantageous. It is just about getting the Government to recognise that we need it.

"Whereas there has long been a recognition that it would make life easier here, it is true to say that the amount of traffic we have had probably does not justify it.

"But that is not to say in the future it cannot be looked at. It is something I would like to see us look at."

That, he adds, is especially the case with Preston's £700m Tithebarn rebirth imminent, a move which is likely to bring record amounts of traffic into the county.

He said: "(With a PTE) it is easier to plan strategically and certainly we would get more say on what transport facilities we have.

"At the moment we rely on goodwill and transport providers and market forces. In other words, if a bus route does not pay it does not pay and they will withdraw the service. Where you have a passenger transport executive you can look more closely at the social implications of routes."

PTEs are generally made up of a group of councillors from across a county area and make policy decisions about public transport. But, Coun Tomlinson says, a Lancashire PTE would need Government backing to set it up.


For more on this story see Friday's Evening Post


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