Transport chiefs are being urged not to forget about Cheshire as they develop a plan for the next 32 years.

New regional body Transport for the North (TfN) is consulting the public on its strategic transport plan – which will shape plans to improve connectivity across the north of England until 2050.

In the draft document, TfN highlights the need to ‘strengthen strategic cross-border connectivity’ between Cheshire, North Wales and the Midlands, as well as improving connectivity in the county to meet the demand of ‘significant economic and population growth’ in the future.

At a meeting last week, members of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet agreed that the council should support the draft plan – provided TfN helps the whole of the north, and not just its major cities.

In a consultation response signed off by the cabinet, CWaC said: “The council fully supports TfN’s vision and its accompanying transport objectives. However, the council believes that this must be a genuine pan-northern approach and not just concentrated on the metropolitan areas.

“Cross boundary accessibility will be vital to ensure that future development, jobs and new housing flourish on both sides of the border.

“This will require investment in both strategic road and rail infrastructure to help assist this growth to come forward.”

A report issued ahead of the meeting highlighted that CWaC is working with TfN ‘to ensure that our views, and those of our partners, are fully considered’.

It added that this work is informed by CWaC’s local transport plan and studies in Northwich, Winsford and Chester – as well as the West and Wales Strategic Rail Prospectus revealed in February.

The report also highlighted the need to improve Mid Cheshire rail services, increase car park capacity at train stations, and develop better access to stations.

Cllr Samantha Dixon, CWaC leader, said: “We believe very strongly that the sum of our parts is much stronger than individual contributors.

“This is the start, we build from here on,” added Cllr Brian Clarke, cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure.

Cllr Lynn Riley, leader of CWaC’s opposition group, welcomed the council’s support of TfN, and urged the council ‘not to be a passenger’ on the TfN board, but to play an ‘active and vibrant part’ of it.

TfN will hold its first meeting today, with Cllr Clarke and Cllr Liz Wardlaw, from Cheshire East Council, expected to attend – along with Pete Waterman, from the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

For more information on TfN and the consultation, visit transportforthenorth.com