New road will drive Fylde’s economy forward

The important role the new £27m M55 to Heyhouses Link Road will play in growing the Fylde coast’s economy was underlined at a civic event marking its opening.

Guests at the celebration, held at Fylde Council, heard the newly opened route will support the commercial viability of local housing sites, existing employment areas and business development sites.

And the improved link to the coast will also deliver “a welcome boost” to the Blackpool Enterprise Zone and the Fylde coast’s leisure and tourism industry.

Representatives from Lancashire County Council, Fylde Council, National Highways, Transport for the North, and the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone were among invited guests celebrating the success of the project.

And they were told the link road was already making a difference in easing traffic congestion in the area.

It completes the existing Lytham St Annes Way by linking the Whitehills Roundabout near the M55 to Heyhouses Lane near Cypress Point, greatly easing access between St Annes, Ansdell, Fairhaven, Lytham, and the M55.
Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “In the short period the new link road has been open, we have already seen the very positive impact it is having on people's journeys.

“Completing the road has been a huge achievement, and will be key to the future of the Fylde coast as the local economy continues to grow.”

She added: “The link road has been delivered just one year on from the opening of Edith Rigby Way to the west of Preston, with the same aim of cutting travel times and unlocking opportunities for growth.

“As the link road becomes part of the fabric of Fylde it shows that, by working ever more closely with our public and private sector partners, we can drive our local economy and help Lancashire thrive.”

Bruce Parker, head of planning and development at National Highways (NW), said: “The benefits of the project are already being felt economically, helping to unlock the development of new homes and the creation of new jobs.”

And Katie Day, strategy director and deputy chief executive for Transport for the North, added: “Better transport connections help our economy and society - whether it is opening up commercial opportunities, helping people access education, training and healthcare, or visiting leisure and cultural facilities.

“An effective, efficient and integrated transport system is fundamental to our lives every day. It connects people and places to jobs and services.

“This project has shown the power of collaboration. By working together, we can deliver better connectivity for citizens and businesses to support sustainable and inclusive growth for people and places across the North of England.”

Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde Council also spoke of the immediate impact of the road’s opening.

She said: “Thousands of visitors from across the country were able to use it while journeying to and from Lytham Festival, one of the biggest events in Fylde’s calendar.

“The greater ease of travel has already proven to be a boon to Fylde’s visitor economy, as well as relieving congestion on local roads, and so causing less inconvenience for residents.”

She added: “The completion of the link road complements our ambitions to regenerate St Annes through our St Annes Masterplan, the imminent completion of the Kirkham Futures Project, and our UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment programme to achieve these goals.”