Draft Local Transport Plan (LTP4) Strategy Document 2025-2040 and the associated Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) Report

Background

As a Local Authority, we have a statutory duty to publish a Local Transport Plan (LTP), which contains a strategy and an action plan. Together, these documents help us to identify and prioritise the transport needs of the district and set out the framework as to how they will be met. 

We have made good progress in delivering our current LTP [2MB] , which was adopted in 2011. However, there have since been major changes that have impacted on transport infrastructure in West Berkshire:

• an increase in working from home has enabled people to adopt more flexible lifestyles and reduced the need for commuting
• home shopping has reduced the need to visit town centre shops and supermarkets but has also increased the number of light goods vehicles on the roads
• the 2021 Census has shown us that the number of people living in West Berkshire has increased, as has the number of people aged 65 years and over - an ageing population will be more likely to rely on public transport services to access everyday services, such as shops and healthcare facilities

Nationally and locally, greater importance has been placed on reducing emissions from transport and increasing active travel, for example, walking and cycling to help maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
 
The government has been promoting the development of sustainable and integrated transport for many years (for example: 1997 A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone and LTP guidance), and in recent years, the Department for Transport (DfT) has produced several documents to encourage sustainable travel, including:

• Gear Change: A bold vision for increasing walking and cycling
• Bus Back Better: National Bus Strategy for England
• Road to Zero Strategy

In addition, the DfT are currently developing an Integrated Transport Strategy for England.

Our draft LTP4 has been developed in parallel with our other local policies such as the emerging Local Plan. It is also supported by a number of strategies designed to help deliver the priorities, including our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle Strategy, and Bus Service Improvement Plan. Our aim is to make it relevant to the challenges and opportunities we face today and provide a modern transport system for West Berkshire. Therefore, it focuses on the following priorities, and the associated objectives that will help to achieve them:

1. Create places for people
2. Provide sustainable access for all
3. Decarbonise transport
4. Support sustainable growth

The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a way of assessing the extent to which the LTP4 will promote sustainable development (economic, environmental and social objectives). The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an assessment of the impact certain plans and programmes may have on the environment.

How we developed our draft LTP4 2025-2040 and SA/SEA

Our draft LTP4 has been underpinned by a robust evidence base, including data from our permanently monitored automatic traffic counters, which have provided an indication of the level of traffic flows on the local road network. 

We also have station usage data from the Office of Road and Rail to highlight the number of passengers using stations in the district. The latest data shows that on average, station usage in West Berkshire is still around 75% of pre-covid levels.

We have worked to understand travel patterns, trends, and emerging opportunities. This includes changes up to 2020, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in propensity to access services digitally.

How we travel is influenced by how close we are to the services we need, for example: shops, doctors, and schools, why we need to travel, and the quality of transport and digital infrastructure that allows us to get to where we want to go. Our draft LTP4 considers the different travel needs of the people who live, work, and learn in our district, and we have grouped the district into the following three place types:

• Newbury and Thatcham
• Rural areas and villages
• Eastern area

Strategic road and rail corridors, for example: mainline railway and M4, which play an important role for businesses and residents, are also considered in the draft LTP4.

Our initial draft LTP4 was consulted on in 2023, and after reviewing the responses, we have made the following changes:

• an increased focus on maintenance, with a new 'Our Network' section and an additional objective
• an increased focus on targets and indicators by refining objectives to include more targets
• providing a better clarity on what is to be delivered, shown in an Action Plan of interventions
• providing a greater focus on freight through enhancing objective to promote rail freight
• providing a concept plan of how the 50% target for active travel journeys in Newbury and Thatcham to be achieved
• highlighting measures to help improve walking, cycling and safer communities in rural areas
• more closely align the Eastern Area with the rural strategy and providing more detail on schemes in the Action Plan

Our revised draft LTP4 sets out how the priorities and objectives can be achieved for each place type, by taking the individual needs of the communities into consideration. 

To make sure that sustainability is incorporated into the strategy, we have undertaken a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the LTP4. The Action Plan has not yet been appraised. The SA/SEA Environmental Report combines the following assessment processes:

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
• Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA)
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

You can view/download our draft LTP4 2025-2040, the full version of the SA/SEA, and a summarised version, through the links below:

• Draft Local Transport Plan 4 2025-2040 [1MB]
• Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) Report [5MB]
• Summarised Draft LTP4 SA/SEA Environmental Assessment Report for consultation [10MB]

Why we want your views

We would like your views on our draft LTP4, the associated Action Plan, and the SA/SEA Report to understand:

• to what extent you agree with the priorities and objectives that we are focusing on
• if you think there is anything we have missed
• to what extent you agree with the proposed strategies in the Action Plan, for example: for the Eastern Area or Strategic Connectivity (Road and Rail)
• if you feel the priorities and objectives are clearly explained
• if you agree with the assessment objectives of the Sustainability Appraisal Report

We'll also be gathering the views of partner organisations, council staff and neighbouring local authorities.

How to take part

If you'd like to comment on our draft LTP4 and SA/SEA, please complete our survey by midnight on Sunday, 25 May 2025. It should take about 10 to 15 minutes.

You can plan your answers before submitting your response by  viewing/downloading a pdf of the survey here. [271KB]

Complete our survey

Comments can also be submitted by email to ltp@westberks.gov.uk or in writing to the Transport Policy Team, West Berkshire Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5LD. 
    

If you have any questions about the consultation, please email ltp@westberks.gov.uk.

You can find out more about our Transport policies on our dedicated Transport page.

Keep up to date with environment news, by signing up to our environment e-newsletter.

What happens next

Your feedback will be used to finalise LTP4, the detailed Action Plan, and the SA/SEA Report. These documents will then be considered by elected members at a meeting of the Full Council on Thursday, 17 July 2025.

Anyone can watch councillors discuss items at Council and Committee meetings or ask a question. To find out more, visit our 'watch live Council and Committee meetings' webpage.

Residents can attend public meetings, either in person at the Market Street Offices or online. If you'd like to ask a West Berkshire Councillor a question at a public meeting, find out what can and can't be asked, and how to submit your question here.

Once approved, the final strategy will be published on our Strategies, Policies and Plans webpage, usually within three months.

We aim to publish a summary of the responses we received, and the decisions taken within three months of the consultation closing on this page.