PRIORITIES for major road and rail schemes in Lancashire will in future be decided by public/private partnership crossing council boundaries.

Transport for Lancashire will, from 2015, give local businesses and politicians a bigger say on improvements paid for out of its own multi-million pound budget.

Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen borough and Blackpool council have joined up with private sector-led Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to develop, approve and finance major road and rail schemes.

Its multi-million budget will be devolved from the Department for Transport in London from 2015/16.

Transport for Lancashire is a committee of the LEP aimed at ensuring future transport schemes support economic development.

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said: “This announcement offers the opportunity of further capital investment in Blackburn with Darwen’s transport infrastructure in support of jobs and communities.

“This body brings real decision-making back to local people across Lancashire who understand the needs of their areas.”

LEP chairman Edwin Booth said: “Transport for Lancashire will allow the private and public sectors to speak with one voice to ensure we get the best possible deal for the area. Businesses will only choose to invest in Lancashire if they know their employees and goods can travel efficiently.”

Transport for Lancashire is currently considering a list of schemes to take forward.

Lancashire county leader Jenny Mein, who will chair the new body, said: “This marks a very significant change in the way decisions will be made to support our economy and create local jobs.

“Until now local councils have funded new transport schemes largely by submitting bids to the Department for Transport, but now we’ll be able to deliver more strongly on local priorities.”