Northumberland Local Transport Plan Draft Strategy 2011-2026 Northumberland County Council November 2010 Contents Part One - Context and Issues 4 Chapter 1 - Introduction 5 Chapter 2 - Wider Issues 13 Chapter 3 - Northumberland Today 23 Chapter 4 - Changing Context for Travel 43 Part Two - Transport Strategy for Northumberland 58 Chapter 5 - Vision, Goals and Objectives 59 Chapter 6 - Supporting Economic Growth 67 Chapter 7 - Reducing Carbon Emissions 79 Chapter 8 - Safer and Healthier Travel 88 Chapter 9 - Improving Access to Services 98 Chapter 10 - Quality of Life 105 Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan Contents Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan Part One - Context and Issues Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan 3 Part One - Context and Issues Part One - Context and Issues The first section of the Plan outlines the changing policy context at the national, regional and local level that has shaped the development of Northumberland’s new Local Transport Plan for the period 2011 to 2026. A current profile of Northumberland is provided together with a summary of the wider issues expected to face the county in the future. An assessment of the impact of these changes on the future travel and transport requirements is also made. Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Wider Issues Chapter 3 Northumberland Today Chapter 4 Changing Context for Travel 4 Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan Part One - Context and Issues Chapter 1 - Introduction This chapter: introduces Northumberland’s draft third Local Transport Plan; sets out the structure of the document; describes how we have developed and appraised the Plan; and outlines the goals, challenges and objectives on which the LTP has been based. Background This document is the draft Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 (LTP3) for Northumberland and has been produced by Northumberland County Council in accordance with the Transport Act 2008. This Plan covers the period 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2026 and will replace the second LTP (LTP2), which expires at the end of March 2011. The Plan describes how Northumberland County Council and its partners will develop and maintain a sustainable local transport system that will promote economic growth, minimise the environmental impact of travel, improve health and address social exclusion for residents, businesses and visitors. It identifies the broad issues for transport in Northumberland, identifies a strategy for addressing them and sets out a programme of transport improvements to be delivered over the next three years and longer term. These improvements will contribute towards delivering the Government’s goals for transport and achieving the long term vision for Northumberland. The local transport strategy builds on the success of the second LTP, with a new focus on delivering the national goals for transport, contributing to the aims of the Northumberland Sustainable Community Strategy and reflecting local land use plans, economic development and climate change priorities. The Plan is complementary to the Tyne & Wear City Region Transport Strategy which covers a wider geographic area including South East Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Durham. The transport strategy and implementation plan have been developed through effective consultation and involvement with people and organisations across the County. This partnership working will be maintained to deliver a wide range of transport improvements over the next three years and beyond. Please note that all budgets and programmes are indicative until the further clarity on the available funding. Given the uncertainty of available funding, the Council has planned for a 40% reduction in the Government’s LTP capital funding assumptions published in July 2008. The confirmed allocations are expected to be included in Northumberland’s final LTP3 and Implementation Plan to be published on 1st April 2011. Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan 5 Part One - Context and Issues Structure of the LTP The Government’s ‘Guidance on Local Transport Plans (July 2009)’ sets out the requirements and provides advice to help local authorities produce the third LTP. This Plan has been prepared in accordance with this guidance and is set out in three main parts. Part 1 - Context and Issues Sets the context for Northumberland’s Third Local Transport Plan. Chapter 1 sets out the structure of the document and describes how we have developed and appraised the Plan. Chapter 2 places the LTP in the wider policy context and identifies the key issues facing Northumberland and their implications for transport. Chapter 3 provides a profile of Northumberland today, describes the existing transport infrastructure, explains existing travel patterns and identifies the emerging challenges for transport. Chapter 4 then examines the wider issues that are expected to change the context for travel in Northumberland and the transport implications of these trends. Part 2 - Northumberland Transport Strategy Describes the Transport Strategy that will address the challenges and contribute towards achieving the Northumberland Vision. Chapter 5 sets out the vision for Northumberland and explains how the transport strategy will contribute through a series of strategic goals and draft objectives. The key challenges that must be addressed for the transport network to support the vision are also provided together with Northumberland’s strategic approach to delivery. Chapters 6 to 10 describes how the LTP will achieve our local goals for supporting economic growth, reducing carbon emissions, improving access to services, providing safer and healthier travel and improving quality of life. For each goal, the key transport issues are set out together with a summary of what the Council and partners will do over the next three years and longer term. Part 3 - Implementation Plan (separate document) Published as a separate document, provides an integrated programme of improvements planned to be delivered by the Council and its partners over the period 2011/12 to 2013/14. It sets out the funding expected to be available from available sources and allocations against themes. A monitoring framework how we will assess our progress in delivering improvements to our transport related objectives and explains our approach to identifying and managing the key risks in delivering our targets. Figure 1.1 shows the relationship between the various parts and chapters of the document. 6 Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan Part One - Context and Issues Figure 1.1 Components of the Local Transport Plan. Developing the Third LTP Government Guidance The Council has taken a fresh look at the policies and implementation proposals in developing the third LTP. The following recommended process has been used to develop an effective strategy and decide priorities for implementation. Figure 1.2 LTP3 Development Process Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan 7 Part One - Context and Issues The guidance also sets out the national transport goals that provide the over-arching priorities for Northumberland’s third LTP. The national transport goals are as follows: Support Economic Growth; Reduce Carbon Emissions; Promote Equality of Opportunity; Contribute to Better Safety, Security and Health; and Improve Quality of Life and Healthy Natural Environment. The importance of these national transport goals and the related network challenges for Northumberland was assessed by considering available evidence, including having regard for local strategic objectives and priorities as contained in Northumberland's Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) and the Local Area Agreement (LAA). Consultation and Involvement Whilst the County Council is the lead organisation in preparing the LTP, the Plan is intended to deliver improvements that will contribute towards achieving a sustainable local transport system for residents, businesses and visitors. It is therefore crucial that in preparing this Plan, the Council identifies what transport stakeholders, users and the wider public consider are the main transport related issues in the county and their future needs and aspirations in the County. To assist in the preparation of the Plan, the Council is carrying out two main phases of engagement and consultation. Figure 1.3 Consultation and Involvement Process 8 Draft Northumberland Local Transport Plan Part One - Context and Issues A paper entitled 'LTP3: Identifying the Issues' - was prepared in January 2010. This helped to identify which of the national goals and challenges are important for Northumberland and also where there is a link to Sustainable Community Strategy objectives. Key stakeholders representing a broad range of transport users and operators were involved. The key issues from the consultation included: recognition of the rural nature of the county and the particular challenges that it presents, including accessibility, public transport provision and protecting the natural environment; the need for sensitive solutions to transport problems in historic market towns; existing traffic congestion on the highway network; implications of new housing developments on the existing transport infrastructure; cross-boundary issues concerning commuter traffic; and concern over damage caused by freight traffic to rural roads. Workshops were then held with Members and invited stakeholders. This presented the problems and opportunities identified from the evidence, proposed goals and objectives and generated options for meeting the challenges. The second phase will give