TRANSPORT bosses are being urged to look beyond HS2 and roadbuilding when investing in Cheshire.

New body Transport for the North (TfN) is currently consulting the public on its strategic transport plan – which will set the agenda for investing in roads and railways for the next 32 years.

Both Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council have recently given their support to TfN and used the consultation to champion investment across the two boroughs.

But the Green Party insists it cannot support TfN’s strategy – which supports the case for HS2 and improvements to major roads in Cheshire – unless it is ‘radically revised’.

Paul Bowers, spokesman for the Cheshire West and Chester Green Party, said: “Whilst we welcome investment in public transport, rapid inter-city links should not take priority over local services.

“Overcrowding on trains at busy periods is a real issue in our area. We need to see improvements in these local services, rather than the current proposal to focus most new spending on inter-city links, such as HS2.

“Major investment in road building schemes is also problematic. By facilitating an increase in the amount and length of road journeys carbon budgets are not being sensibly addressed, nor is the serious issue of drawing yet new levels of traffic into an area with already high levels of congestion and accidents.”

TfN is pushing for investment into roads and rail to improve connectivity between the cities and regions, and to cope with a forecasted growth in congestion of up to 211 per cent on some major routes in and out of Cheshire by 2050.

But Cheshire Greens are instead calling for traffic reduction to be a priority, along with an improved public transport system that meets local needs.

High Legh resident Nigel Hennerley, who stood as the Green Party candidate for Tatton in last year’s General Election, believes that while connectivity for people and goods is important, TfN’s strategy is a ‘contradiction of aspirations’.

“On the one hand it is driven by the exponential economic growth with finite resources, fuelled by 19th century fossil fuels,” he said.

“And on the other there is an acknowledgement of our requirements to protect the environment, biodiversity and climate change.

“As we continue to do more damage with the A556 new road, HS2, Manchester Airport expansion, and proposals for the Cheshire Gateway development, we seem to only create more problems.  Maybe we need to learn to enjoy, and preserve what we have around us more.

“I would like to see bigger emphasis on improvements to local rail services and the wider rail network, before destroying more biodiversity and ancient forest which HS2 would bring.”

To take part in the consultation, visit transportforthenorth.com