HAVE YOUR SAY: Buxton traffic and travel survey launched

Buxton Town Team, which is driving forward the project, hopes the results of the consultation can be used to work with High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council to bring about positive change and make things easier for residents and businesses.

Tina Heathcote, from the town team, said: “Nothing will ever happen if we don’t start the conversation, so we want people to take part and tell us what the problems are with traffic and travel in the town.”

The survey follows on from the Buxton On The Move conference two years ago which highlighted a number of issues.

Buxton Town Team has a team of volunteers ready to step up and help with the project.

Tina said: “We believe we are working on a country-first and will be the only town to have a fully-formed traffic plan by the end of this.

“We have printed 6,000 surveys and it is also available online as we want to be fully inclusive in our approach and make sure we hear from everyone from all walks of life.

“This is not about telling people what they can and cannot do, it is about making it easier for everyone.”

Once all the surveys have been returned, the town team will work with the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Derby to interpret the data and identify trends.

Tina said: “We can’t know the outcomes of the survey yet, but we already know there are no cycle lanes in the town so maybe the results will say something about that and then we could work with the councils to try and implement change.

“It could just be the little things that will help more people, such a synchronising bus times at the train station so they arrive after the train has turned up rather than before.”

The town team is also organising a ‘come and try travel’ day on the Market Place in Buxton on April 28, when people will be able to try out electric bikes.

To take part in the survey, visit buxtontownteam.org/working-on/buxton-on-the-move/online-travel-survey.

Paper copies can be picked up and returned at 18 locations around the town, including Fairfield Community Centre, Buxton Library, Buxton Museum and Art Gallery and the Tourist Information Centre at the Pavilion Gardens.

Anyone who completes and returns the survey before Friday May 28 will be entered into a prize draw.