DfT - Local Transport Plan 3 Guidance - Consultation

[domd1979]

The DfT have just launched their consultation on Draft Guidance for Local Transport Plan 3. These will (generally) be the LTPs local authorities produce to take effect 2011 onwards. Might not be the most exciting stuff in the world, but it is likely to have a bearing on how LAs treat cycling in the next LTP. Broadly the consultation says the next LTPs will be based around five "goals", which are: climate change, support economic growth, equality of opportunity, contribnute to better safety, security, and health, and improve quality of life. Does sound potentially vague, but cycling ought to feature under most of those headings.

Anyway, for anyone inclined (and suitably bored to read the 45 pages), the consultation is open until April, and the DfT is inviting views of individuals and organisations.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/draftguidanceltp/

 

[Bollo]

Had a blast through it and yes, its written in stategise - seems more about the writing of LTPs rather than addressing transport issues.

One chapter caught my eye though...

34.The DfT will no longer formally assess Local Transport Plans, impose mandatory targets or require submission of formal monitoring reports separate from the LAA Framework. This places responsibility firmly on individual authorities to consider how to use the Local Transport Planning framework in the way which works best for them. Authorities are accountable to their communities rather than to the Department for both the quality of the transport strategies prepared and for ensuring effective delivery.

In other words, long term goals will be dumped in favour of short term, local-election friendly - and therefore car friendly - policies. More car parking anyone?

 

[domd1979]

Had a blast through it and yes, its written in stategise - seems more about the writing of LTPs rather than addressing transport issues.

Yep, it is about the writing of them, though obviously it will have a bearing on how transport issues are addressed.

In other words, long term goals will be dumped in favour of short term, local-election friendly - and therefore car friendly - policies. More car parking anyone?

It seems to swing from one extreme to the other. At the moment there's performance indicator overload and the focus on certain targets can distract from other issues not the subject of an indicator. Equally if local politics starts to cause short termism, that isn't good either.

LTPs aside, changes are afoot with Planning Policy Statements which could well favour more car parking. Maximum parking standards are likely to be got rid of and left to local control which in a worst case scenario could see local authorities trying to attract developments by being generous with the amount of parking allowed in planning consent.

 

[Bollo]

Not planning policy, but I too have been exposed to the government's (small g - its endemic irrespective of the party in power) bizarre combination of micro-management and risk transfer. On the other had, the British public's inability to see past the cost of a litre of petrol, plus 'for profit' bus and rail transport means nothing's going to improve any time soon, especially if the decision-making process is exposed to local politics. Case of devil and the deep blue methinks.

 

[sheddy]

If anyone has seen a Cycling Strategy LTP3 document from their Council that is worth the paper it is written on, could they post a link ?

The Hertfordshire document is a load of pish and waffle and lists open ended targets described as 'ongoing'. It fails to list any real schemes or improvements.

 

[sheddy]

Bump on the LTP3 question. I know that these docs are as dull as ditchwater but someone must have had some input ?