A1P (1) MAJOR HIGHWAY SCHEMES - A5225 ... - Wigan Council

The LPA concurs and has considered the need for this. It has identified the role of
disused railway lines in accommodating its proposals for part of the A5225 Wigan and
Hindley Bypass, part of the Ashton Northern Bypass, the route of the Leigh Guided Busway
and part of the Greenway network under policy C1E.
10.185 PPG12 (paragraph 5.22) advises that, in safeguarding land from
development in order to retain it for a potential transport route, LPAs should be realistic
about the prospects for a start of the project within the plan period and sensitive to the
implications of blight. No information has been presented to me, either by the LPA or
objectors, to indicate that there is a realistic prospect of such a transport scheme being
promoted, let alone started, on any other section of disused railway line within the plan
period. There is, therefore, no basis on which I can recommend safeguarding such land
from competing development.
The interests of horse riders
10.186 Objectors at FDD stage argue that the UDP should recognise horse riders
as legitimate and vulnerable road users. The LPA concurs and, at RDD stage, makes
specific reference to horse riders within the hierarchy of accessibility presented in policy
A1. The recognition that they are vulnerable road users is expressed in an addition to the
reasoned justification to that policy at RDD stage. Objectors advocate that the needs of
equestrians should be considered in the Local Transport Plan and the Road Safety
Strategy. My remit extends only to the merits of the replacement UDP, however.
Recommendation
I recommend:
(REC 10.28) that no modification be made to the RDD in response to these
objections.
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