Milton Keynes City Council’s new Local Transport Plan (LTP5) was approved for public consultation this week.
Covering roads, parking, public transport, cycling, and future projects such as the proposed “MK Metro” mass rapid transit system, the plan is billed as a long-term vision for how the city moves
. Conservative councillors say the ideas may sound appealing, but history shows delivery often falls short — and in the meantime, residents face higher costs and fewer parking spaces. Conservative councillors, many of whom have seen multiple transport plans come and go over the years, say the message rarely changes — but the delivery almost always falls short. There’s simply never enough funding to turn the full ‘vision’ into reality, with Section 106 and tariff contributions only stretching so far.
Within the proposal, the Labour-run Council is planning to raise parking charges in Central Milton Keynes for the third year in a row. They say this rise is “inevitable” to achieve what they call a “better balance” between car use and public transport. In other words, they want to make driving less attractive, so more people choose buses instead. The plan even says it’s “an acceptable trade-off” for those who can afford the extra cost. Conservative Councillors say this risks hitting lower-income drivers the hardest, while the promised alternatives, like improved buses and the new MK Metro, are still years away from being ready.
The plan also highlights the need to make walking and cycling more attractive, but admits many residents feel unsafe using the 350km Redway network due to poor lighting, overgrown plants, and dark underpasses. Improvements are promised but as residents are aware it takes a long time for even light bulbs on redways to be replaced. The Conservative Councillors believe that the council needs to get these basics right before residents will feel safe using the redways.
However, the Conservative Councillors highlight that the plans to tackle dangerous parking outside schools will be welcomed. They say that residents have repeatedly raised concerns about the traffic chaos during drop-off and pick-up times. The proposals include plans to step up enforcement — including potential new camera powers later in the year— with pilot schemes proposed initially for some of our primary schools.
Cllr Shazna Muzammil-Cook, Leader of the Conservative Group, said: “This plan talks about choice, but pushing drivers who can’t afford yet another parking charge increase onto public transport that isn’t reliable, frequent or affordable is anything but a choice. If buses, MK Connect and MK Metro were ready to go, we could have a different conversation — but right now, residents are being asked to pay more before proper alternatives exist.”
“We will always stand on the side of residents — the parents doing the school run, the shift worker getting home after midnight, the carer rushing between appointments. Residents deserve want and deserve transport plan that works in reality, not an uncosted wishlist.”
The public consultation will run for 12 weeks from September. Milton Keynes Conservative Group are urging residents to read the plan, understand its impact, and make their voices heard before decisions are finalised.