Our South East Region-wide study is in three parts. This first study covers the Berkshire Unitary authorities of Bracknell, Reading, Slough, Wokingham and West Berkshire, the Unitary Authority of Milton Keynes, and the Counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Although Windsor and Maidenhead did some preliminary work they decided to carry over their LTP2 and to produce an LTP3 at a later date.

This is a web based study which was started when LTP3s were in consultation document form. Where possible we have read the final documents submitted to DfT but information in some instances has not been updated on web sites. We have experienced difficulty in accessing detailed Implementation Plans which we assume would give us harder information on the level of commitment to policies to encourage cycling and walking.

Tackling climate change was one of the five Delivering a Sustainable Transport System goals around which the previous government advised local transport authorities to draw up their LTP3s. The present government did not issue fresh advice on the form LTP3 should take but reiterated a commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions from transport.

It would therefore have been surprising if in drawing up their LTP3s local transport authorities had failed to incorporate some consideration of the need for their transport strategies to include a reference to the need to tackle climate change.

This is in fact the case.

Bracknell Forest ‘Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport’ is a local objective. It is also regarded as a challenge. ‘Through promotion of sustainable transport the Council will seek to reduce harmful transport emissions and work with potential developers to ensure future growth in the Borough can be achieved without an increase in greenhouse gases.’

Buckinghamshire ‘Transport has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the county’s natural and built environment. We have a fundamental role in reducing carbon and waste generated by our operations as the Local Transport Authority.’

Milton Keynes ‘Reduce transport based CO₂ emissions to help tackle climate change.’ is an objective. ‘Milton Keynes will have the most sustainable transport network in the country reducing transport based CO₂ emissions significantly, tackling climate change and improve air quality’.

Oxfordshire. One of the four local transport goals is ‘to reduce the impact of transport on the environment and help tackle climate change.’ ‘Our core objective for carbon dioxide reduction is principally focused on encouraging trips to either not be made, or to be made by less carbon intensive transport modes’.

Reading ‘Climate change threatens our economic and social prosperity and innovative solutions for mitigation and adaptation will be required to deliver successful and stable transport networks in the future. The Reading Climate Change Strategy 2008-2013 aims to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050’.

A Strategic Objective is ‘To reduce carbon emissions from transport, improve air quality and create a transport network which supports a mobile, affordable low-carbon future.’

Slough ‘Reduce transport’s CO2 emissions & make transport network resilient to the effects of climate change’ is a transport objective. ‘We have set targets to reduce the Council’s CO2 emissions by 40% by 2014 and to make Slough carbon neutral (i.e. with zero net greenhouse gas emissions) by 2020 2. We also set a target to reduce CO2 emissions per head in the borough by 9% by 2010/11 from a 2005 baseline.’

Wokingham  ‘Tackling climate change is of the utmost importance for the Council – this will be reflected in the policy options throughout this plan. Transport, and in particular the use of private vehicles, is a strong contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.’ ‘2020 Target: The Council will have achieved a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from transport compared to 2005 levels.’

West Berkshire Carbon reduction and climate change is regarded as a key issue: -
‘Climate change is widely regarded as the most serious environmental challenge of the 21st century. The Council will need to develop a transport system that will seek to reduce local transport-based carbon emissions, and to develop networks that will have greater resilience to the impacts of climate change.’  

Reducing harmful emissions from transport requires a shift away from the motor car, van and lorry, either modally to cycling, walking and public transport or by just by reducing the amount of travel by private motorised vehicles. Whilst recognising the importance of reducing the need to travel and of supporting and promoting public transport this review confines itself to walking and cycling and how these are being promoted, either through investment in infrastructure or through promotional initiatives such as smarter choices or behaviour change interventions. All the authorities studied had policies, strategies or objectives aimed at increasing levels of cycling and walking through infrastructural improvements and a smarter choices (or behaviour change) programme. 

Bracknell Forest.   Smarter Choices, Walking and Cycling and Travel Planning are three of 20 policies. There is a Smarter Choices strategy. ‘The Council’s approach to walking and cycling will be implemented through the Walking and Cycling Strategy, the Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan, the Sustainable Modes of Travel to School strategy and the production of Travel Plans.’

Within the Implementation Plan ‘Smarter Choices’ and  ‘Sustainable Modes of Travel to School’ are ‘Strategy Areas’. In the table of schemes, there are six under the heading of ‘School Gates Assessments and future Sustainable Modes of Travel to School’ aimed at improving pedestrian and cycling links to schools. Under ‘Access, Mobility and Travel choice’ there are several schemes aimed at improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, but only two which might involve soft measures ‘Cycle Network Marketing & Rebranding’ and  ‘Local Sustainable Transport Fund Bid – development of bid to government for sustainable transport improvements.’ Under ‘Infrastructure linked to future growth and development’ there are 20 schemes for ‘Pedestrian and Cycling accessibility improvements’ but only three are given a time frame.

Buckinghamshire In the ‘Thriving Economy’ chapter there are references to encouraging behaviour change and travel plans as well as consideration of the shared space concept. An objective under the ‘Sustainable Environment’ Chapter is ‘Increase the proportion of people travelling by low emission modes of transport’ which is linked to behaviour change initiatives. There is a ‘Sustainable Travel Strategy’ which highlights smarter choices techniques. In the ‘Health and Wellbeing ‘chapter there is an objective to ‘improve health by encouraging cycling and walking’. This chapter incorporates a summary of the ‘Sustainable Travel Strategy – Walking, Cycling and ‘Rights of Way’. Ongoing support for ‘Bikeability’is affirmed here as well as the consideration of 20mph zones and support for new pedestrian and cycling routes. In the ‘Cohesive and Strong Communities’ chapter there is a reference to supporting active travel and encouraging travel plans.

In the draft (Feb 2011) Implementation plan 2011/12, Key Performance Indicators relating to cycling and walking are ‘County wide cycling indicator’ and ‘Increase in Active Travel to school – walking/cycling’. These are new indicators and are presented without an agreed methodology and without targets. ‘The average number of cycling journeys per year in Bucks’ is an established indicator with a methodology but no target.

 In the current financial year £534K of revenue funding has been allocated to Public Transport and Sustainable Travel, with £527k and £538K in subsequent years.

Milton Keynes  Cycling and walking is a strategy strand as is Smarter Choices. ‘Cycling and walking will be given top priority within city estates; and cycling and walking links in rural areas to employment centres and key services will be improved.’

There is a Cycling and Walking Strategy which includes a list of interventions with short and medium term delivery dates. MK will continue to monitor the number of cycling trips

There is a Smarter Choices Strategy which includes a list of interventions with short and medium term delivery dates.

In the Implementation Plan ‘The council and its relevant local partners will bid for funding from the central government Local Sustainable Transport Fund, particularly for funding in Year 1 and subsequent years in the short-term. This will be for a package of cycling and walking interventions and related measures. In the medium and long-term, the council and partners will bid for central government major scheme funding.

Other funding will be sought from a variety of partners, including operators, local

businesses, organisations and developers.’  In the table of interventions specific but estimated sums over four years, both capital and revenue, are allocated for Cycling and Walking and Smarter Choices interventions.

Oxfordshire. There is a chapter entitled ‘Walking, Cycling and Rights of Way’.

 ‘Walking and cycling provide travel options that have the lowest carbon footprint and few adverse environmental impacts, and they contribute to improving people’s health. They can reduce congestion and improve accessibility. Our core objective is to create the conditions where a greater proportion of trips, especially in urban areas, are made on foot or by bicycle’. ‘Our strategy for promoting more walking and cycling includes:

• route-by-route auditing of existing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists

 to develop programmes for improvement of important routes and facilities;

• developing pedestrian and cycle route networks by providing new or improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists;
• improving signage of pedestrian and cycle routes; and
• promoting the health, environmental, and financial benefits of increased walking and cycling, including use of rights of way and publicly accessible green areas.

 ‘Oxfordshire County Council remains committed to the principle that cyclists have every right to use the whole county road network including main roads, particularly in Oxford where there are large flows of cyclists on some main radial roads.’

 There is a section on image and marketing of cycling.

 In respect of The Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) they ‘are currently developing a package of appropriate measures.’

 The Implementation Plan which is called Transport Investment Programme has little detailed information on proposed spending which is aimed directly at promoting cycling and walking, but in the Strategy document specific sums 2011 to 2015 have been allocated to footway schemes under a ‘Structural Maintenance’ heading. Under ‘Integrated Transport’ small sums have been allocated through the Science Vale Transport Package to a cycle network for 2011/12 and 2012/13 but have not been determined for subsequent years.

Reading ‘To facilitate more physically active travel for journeys in a healthy environment’ is an objective.

‘The Cycling Strategy (2008) aims to develop branded radial routes which connect residential areas to central Reading as well as to local centres, employment areas, and key local facilities such as education, leisure, and health services. The mapping and signing of these routes is well-progressed.’

‘The challenge related to cycling is to encourage more people to cycle by

developing and promoting safe, attractive and direct cycle routes and through provision of information and training opportunities that reduce the perceived dangers of cycling’.

 Objectives for walking are:

- To make conditions safer, more convenient and more attractive for pedestrians;

- To increase the number of people walking to local shops, schools, interchange locations and other destinations; and

- To break down real and perceived barriers to pedestrian movement.

We were unable to access any detailed Implementation Plan.

Slough Cycling measures’ are one of the 12 ‘Principal Transport Strategy Components’. ‘Walking Measures’ are one of the 12 ‘Principal Transport Strategy Components’.

Cycling will contribute to 10 of the 12 transport objectives.

Walking will contribute to the same 10 transport objectives.

There is a Cycling Strategy, a Walking Strategy and a Smarter Choices Strategy.

‘Our walking and cycling strategies, combined with our Rights of

Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) are directed at improving facilities and encouraging more people to walk and cycle.’

‘Our smarter choices strategy places a strong emphasis on promoting walking and

cycling to school by working in partnership with schools and developing initiatives to make travel by these modes more attractive.’

Providing second-hand or abandoned bikes to those on low incomes and a cycle hire scheme are proposed.

‘To support our travel planning activity we will look to fund cycle training (such as

Bike It and Bikeability) for school age children in Slough. We will also seek to extend cycle training opportunities to adults.’

‘In designing all highway schemes we will implement a cycle and pedestrian audit procedure to ensure that the needs of the non‐motorised mode users are considered’

‘Central to our smarter choices campaign will be a marketing and communications plan.’

‘Investment in maintaining and enhancing walking and cycle routes to make them safer and more attractive is the foundation for boosting levels of active travel in Slough. We will work with health partners, the proposed Cycle Forum and others to promote the health benefits.’

‘We aim to establish a forum or campaign group with people who cycle in Slough to help foster a stronger cycling culture in the Borough.’

We were unable to access any detailed Implementation Plan.

West Berkshire ‘Encouraging more people to walk and cycle can allow people to become more active by incorporating physical activity into their everyday lives. This can help address some of the current health issues facing the UK, such as tackling obesity and heart disease.’

Travel Choice is a key policy which involves developing options to encourage greater use of walking and cycling.

There are Smarter Choices and Active Travel Strategies supported by Cycling and Walking Policies. These policies will be delivered through (amongst other initiatives) ‘the provision of professional cycle training’ and ‘the delivery of a Smarter Choices Strategy for West Berkshire.’

The Climate Change Policy ‘will be delivered by development and promotion of walking, cycling, and public transport networks’. The School Travel Policy ‘will be delivered (amongst other initiatives) by the provision of professional cycle training’ and ‘by promotion of walk to school schemes’.

 In the Indicative Implementation Plan there are several cycling and walking schemes listed with either costings or officer time allocated to them.  Under the key policy of Active Travel in 2011/12 £570k has been allocated for capital expenditure, 4.8k for revenue and £565k from developer contributions. There are also allocations for the years to 2014. Under the Key Policy of Smarter Choices, which is heavily weighted towards the promotion of travel plans the only allocation is officer time. West Berkshire Council has been awarded £65,000 to continue funding the delivery of Bikeability in 2011/12. The Council will develop a bid to be submitted to DfT for the LSTF.

 Wokingham There are Active Travel Policy Options. ‘Walking and cycling are good for boosting health and, when replacing short journeys by car, they can also reduce congestion levels and CO2 emissions. Walking or cycling can be a quicker and lower

cost alternative to the car or public transport for many short journeys and are often the easiest ways for most of us to get more physically active.’ ‘We will actively encourage integrating walking and cycling routes and facilities into key destinations including –Retail, Leisure and Social facilities; Public Transport Interchanges; Schools, Colleges and other educational facilities and Employment areas.’ ‘2026 Target: At least one in five journeys to work is either on foot or by bicycle.’ There are Smarter Choices and Demand Management Policy Options. This includes a School Travel Awareness Campaign.’ ‘2026 Target: At least 60% of children in the Borough travel to school by walking and cycling.-2026 Target: 80% of all school children have received cycle training by Year 7.’’T’T        ’ Schools, Colleges and other educational facilities;

Travel Plans and Area Wide Travel planning are also Policy Options.

We were unable to access any detailed Implementation Plan.

 Peter England

A Friends of the Earth briefing on LTPs can be found here.
 
Extracts from four existing documents are presented in this LTP3 advice summary. For context it is recommended that you read the full versions using the web page references outlined in the document.
1.  Cycling: a local transport solution
2.  Promote public health: take action on active travel
3.  Local Transport Plan activist training days September 2009
4.  Oxfordshire Active Travel Strategy

You can also track the current progress of LTP3s in your area using this LTP3 South East December 2010 document.

You were stunned by Local Transport Plans I, amazed by Local Transport Plans II now be horrified by Local Transport Plans III!

But seriously folks, you may or may not be aware but your local council is currently working out how transport systems in your area will look beyond 2011.

So what is a Local Transport Plan (LTP): 

1. Supporting economic growth
2. Tackling climate change
3. Contributing to better safety, security and health
4. Promoting equality of opportunity
5. Improving quality of life and a healthy natural environment

There is obviously great scope in them (though it is not mandatory) to help in reducing carbon emissions and encouraging travel by foot, bike and public transport.

The process with in  local authorities is starting now (a spreadsheet of where councils are in the development of their plans will be coming to this article shortly but that information should be available on your local council website) but there is no need to wait for the consultations to comment. A group in Oxfordshire got together and  proactively drew up their thoughts in the Oxfordshire Active Travel Strategy on how their LTP should look. You could do the same.

More information on LTPs and how to influence them can be found on the CTC website and also in a detailed briefing from Friends of the Earth

 We’ll also be adding more on the SEFS website as and when it is available.