Comment

Representation ID: 2944

Received: 08/09/2017

Respondent: Member of Parliament

Whilst it is important that transport proposals are sustainable and clean they also have to be practical. It is clear that as the Black Country has undergone rapid change over the last six years the priorities of the development of the transport network need to change too. For this reason the detail of the priorities as set out in this document require much greater depth before they are approved. If the number of houses is to increase in the Black Country, as suggested in the consultation document, the current priorities will clearly need to be reassessed and delivering the quality and capacity of the transport network for the subsequent increased population will become essential.

Since the last core strategy was published, the West Midlands has formed a Combined Authority which takes some responsibility for transport. Whilst some of the policy proposals are important for the Black Country and relevant to the Core Strategy, they should be looked at within the context of a wider West Midlands. For example, should a policy high up on the priorities list for the Black Country but near the bottom of the West Midlands Combined Authority priorities list, or even assessed as not viable by the West Midlands Combined Authority, be included in the Black Country Core Strategy if the chances of it progressing are relatively low or even nil?

I support and encourage increasing the number of journeys taken via greener methods but, these figures must not simply be arbitrary and should be based on clear and transparent research and analysis, and there has to be a clear plan to reach these targets.