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NORTHUMBERLAND

FULL LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN

2001 - 2006

2. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN OBJECTIVES

	2.1 Aims
	2.2 Plan Objectives
	2.3 Links between Strategies & Local Transport Plan Objectives

2.1 AIMS

2.1.1 The Council’s overall transport aim is to:

“Create and maintain a safe, efficient and integrated transport system which maximises accessibility, minimises the adverse effect of traffic on the environment and communities, and facilitates the development of a strong economy and community”.

2.1.2 An efficient transport system is essential to the future prosperity of Northumberland. Transport policies in conjunction with other policies relating to land use, have a direct bearing on the environment, and on the development of the County’s economy. They affect the manner, convenience and safety with which people and goods are able to travel about Northumberland; in addition, they can have direct effects on the local and global environment. Maintaining and improving the transport system is an integral part of the overall strategy towards sustainable revitalisation and regeneration in Northumberland.

2.1.3 Objectives for local transport provision in Northumberland have been formulated against this background, and to achieve the over-arching principles of the Government's integrated transport policy in the context of the problems and opportunities in the County. These objectives are consistent with the County Council’s Strategic Statement, which sets out the Authority’s aims for Northumberland. Strategic Statement aims which will be promoted through the LTP include:

regenerating Northumberland’s economy;
tackling disadvantage;
promoting a safe and healthy environment.

2.1.4 The Strategic Statement identifies a number of key elements which are important in achieving these broad aims, and those which are of most importance to LTP are:

achieving sustainable development;
environmental and social revitalisation;
integrated transport.

2.2 PLAN OBJECTIVES

2.2.1 A number of LTP objectives have been developed to achieve the Council’s overall transport aim. These are to:

Promote integrated transport systems and land use patterns that minimise dependence on the private car.
Develop convenient, quality and affordable public transport services that meet the needs of all sections of the community particularly to main employment centres and services.
Contribute to the creation of safe, convenient and attractive places for people to work and live by improving access for all by sustainable means and managing traffic to reduce its impact on the environment and the community.
Maintain, and where necessary improve transport links to assist economic and community regeneration.
Extend the highway network only where necessary to improve road safety, reduce unacceptable environmental impacts on local communities or to enable new development.

2.2.2 These general objectives provide the context for the Investment Strategy of the LTP. They have been developed into more detailed objectives, policies and proposals in the subsequent sections on local transport strategies.

2.2.3 The relationship of these general objectives with the strategies of this LTP are set out in the following two diagrams.

2.3 LINKS BETWEEN THE TRANSPORT STRATEGIES & THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN

Ref.	STRATEGY	Ref.	STRATEGY
A	Travel Plans	G	Traffic Reduction
B	Public Transport	H	Road Safety
C	Walking and Cycling	I	Street Lighting
D	School Travel Plans	J	Environmental Improvement
E	Social Inclusion	K	Movement of Freight
F	Community Safety	L	Road Network

OBJECTIVE

Promote integrated transport systems and land use patterns that minimise dependence on the private car.

Develop convenient, quality and affordable public transport services that meet the needs of all sections of the community particularly to main employment centres and services.

Contribute to the creation of safe, convenient and attractive places for people to work and live by improving access for all by sustainable means and managing traffic to reduce its impact on the environment and the community.

Maintain, and where necessary improve transport links to assist economic and community regeneration.

Extend the highway network only where necessary to improve road safety, reduce unacceptable environmental impacts on local communities or to enable new development.

KEY:
þ	Strong Positive Role
ü	Positive Role
¤	Neutral Role

Overall Transport Aim “Create and maintain a safe, efficient and integrated transport system which maximises accessibility, minimises the adverse effect of traffic on the environment and communities, and facilitates the development of a strong economy and community”

*The overall transport aim is supported by 5 Main Objectives*

1. Promote integrated transport systems and land use patterns that minimise dependence on the private car. 2. Develop convenient, quality and affordable public transport services that meet the needs of all sections of the community particularly to main employment centres and services. 3. Contribute to the creation of safe, convenient and attractive places for people to work and live by improving access for all by sustainable means and managing traffic to reduce its impact on the environment and the community. 4. Extend the highway network only where necessary to improve road safety, reduce unacceptable environmental impacts on local communities or to enable new development. 5. Maintain, and where necessary improve transport links to assist economic and community regeneration.

*The 5 Main Objectives are supported by specific strategies that contribute to the overall transport aim*

*Increasing Travel Choice and Opportunities for* *Sustainable Travel*	*Minimising The Impact of Traffic on Communities and* *the Environment*			*Maintaining and Improving a Strategic Network of Transport Infrastructure*

*Strategies to meet specific objectives that contribute to the overall transport aim*

WALKING AND CYCLING Encourage walking and cycling as a viable alternative to the car for short journeys PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses Make public transport more available and attractive to residents of Northumberland Interchange Provide good facilities at public transport interchanges to attract more users Information Ensure that public transport information is easily accessible to users and potential users of public transport Rail To encourage greater use of rail through new or improved services Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles To maximise their role in the provision of transport TRAVEL PLANS School Encourage children to walk or cycle to school in a safe environment Employment Encourage the adoption of Travel Plans by major employers to encourage modal shift for work journeys SOCIAL INCLUSION Community Transport To reduce social exclusion in areas where lack of a car or public transport reduces the opportunity to travel. People with Disabilities To ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from being able to travel COMMUNITY SAFETY To reduce crime and the fear of crime related to transport issues STREET LIGHTING To encourage greater use of walking, cycling and public transport at night and to reduce crime and the fear of crime		ROAD SAFETY To reduce road accidents in the County through programmes of Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Encouragement TRAFFIC REDUCTION Parking To work with the District Councils to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the management of on-street and off-street parking in the County’s main towns Traffic Restraint Measures To improve the management of traffic in urban areas reduce danger associated with traffic speed ENVIRONMNENTAL IMPROVEMENT Town Centres To provide greater priority to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport in town centres Air Quality & Noise Reduction To ensure that Northumberland meets national targets for air quality and the requirements of the Land Compensation Act Climate Change To consider the potential impact of transport in Northumberland on climate change THE COUNTRYSIDE To maintain and enhance the Northumberland Countryside and protect it from the adverse effects of traffic	ROAD NETWORK Maintenance To maintain the existing transport infrastructure in Northumberland in a safe condition for road users Bridges To maintain the stock of bridges in Northumberland in a sound condition in order to facilitate its safe use by the travelling public Improvements To extend the road network to assist economic and community regeneration and remove the effects of through traffic FREIGHT Road To minimise the impact on the environment of fright which is carried by road Rail To maximise the amount of freight transferred from road to rail Ports To maximise the amount of freight transferred from road to sea AIRPORT SURFACE ACCESS To work with the Airport Company to increase the number of journeys made to the airport by modes other than the private car

July 2000 - Environment Directorate - Northumberland County Council

If you wish to speak to someone regarding this Local Transport Plan, please contact: Margaret Robinson on (01670) 533976

Further copies of this document are available from: Richard McKenzie on (01670) 533975

Environment Directorate

Northumberland County Council

County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF

E-mail Environment@northumberland.gov.uk

July 2000