MASSIVE investment in transport has been laid out in a new borough council report.

The summary of the five-year Local Transport Plan shows how £31.7m was spent on trying to keep the town moving.

The council believes the report shows that the 2001 to 2006 plan has been a significant success in starting to drive forward real progress for transport in the borough.' Transport spending almost doubled to more than £6m during the first year of the plan.

Around half was spent on maintaining roads and making them more user friendly for drivers and pedestrians - nearly £1m on the A49 alone.

Traffic injuries are also continuing to fall from their mid-90s peak.

Public transport achievements include 200 new electronic arrival time displays and the building of the new bus station - plus £200,000 for Warrington Central train station.

There have been more than 10 miles of greenways and cycle tracks and the creation of a new urban traffic management centre.

And it is not just reduced journey times the council is after. School and workplace travel plans covering 34 schools and 32,500 people encourage more walking and cycling.

However the report stresses a cautionary note for the next Local Transport Plan for 2006 to 2011.

Transport chiefs know congestion is forecast to go up and we are warned of major challenges ahead, particularly in terms of tackling congestion in and around the town centre.'