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Local Access and Transport Strategy MAIN ISSUES REPORT SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL JULY 2015 LOCAL ACCESS and TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT

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Local Access and Transport Strategy MAIN ISSUES REPORT SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL JULY 2015 LOCAL ACCESS and TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT local access and transport strategy MAIN ISSUES REPORT SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL JULY 2015 LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT CONTENTS FOREWORD 3 WHERE TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE 4 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. EXISTING CONTEXT 7 3. VISION FOR THE SCOTTISH BORDERS 13 4. KEY ISSUES 1: THE ROUTE TO MARKETS – RAIL ROAD, AIR AND SEA 15 5. KEY ISSUES 2: PUBLIC AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT 19 6. KEY ISSUES 3: PROMOTION OF WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING 23 7. KEY ISSUES 4: ROADS MAINTENANCE 31 8. KEY ISSUES 5: FORESTRY 35 9. KEY ISSUES 6: ROAD SAFETY 37 10. KEY ISSUES 7: PARKING 41 2 | LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT INTRODUCTION | EXISTING CONTEXT | VISION | RAIL ROAD, AIR AND SEA | PUBLIC AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT | WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING ROADS MAINTENANCE | FORESTRY | ROAD SAFETY | PARKING | REDUCTION IN TRAVEL/LOW CARBON/ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT FOREWORD Cllr Ron Smith Cllr Gordon Edgar Transport and access issues are an essential part of everyday life for the There are also a number of key questions in the document where you have the people who live and work in the Scottish Borders, but also for the people opportunity to provide your views on a range of issues and we will use these who visit our area. We want to ensure that our transport infrastructure responses to help with the development of the main strategy document. and associated services are fit for purpose and encourage economic development and tourism, whilst serving the people who make the As part of the consultation process we will be running a number of events Scottish Borders their home. across the Local Authority area and there will also be an opportunity to provide electronic comments through the Council website or by sending written The Local Access and Transport Strategy can influence the decision comments to Council Headquarters. makers and offer direction to help make the Scottish Borders a more connected place. Please feel free to respond to as many questions as you like within the consultation exercise. Please do not feel obliged to provide answers to all of the The publication of this Main Issues Report is the first stage in the questions. preparation of this Strategy and presents people with an opportunity to discuss the issues and make suggestions in terms of future proposals. We would encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to provide us This document sets out a number of key issues for your consideration with your views on a range of transport issues which will influence the Borders including potential improvements to transport infrastructure, the transport infrastructure in the years ahead development of walking and cycling networks and how we promote and develop the newly constructed Borders Rail Service. Councillor Ron Smith Executive Member for Planning & Environment Councillor Gordon Edgar Executive Member for Roads & Infrastructure LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT | 3 WHERE TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE The Main Issues Report is available on the Council website at: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/lats A hard copy of the report can also be viewed in all Libraries and Council Contact Centres. Responses to this Main Issues Report may be sent to the Council by one of the following means: • Direct through the Council’s website by submitting the online form at: www.scotborders.gov.uk/haveyoursay • By email to [email protected] • Using the forms provided and sending to: PLANNING POLICY AND ACCESS Regulatory Services | Council Headquarters | Newtown St Boswells | Melrose | TD6 0SA It is recommended that your response is by electronic means and is sent only once in order to avoid unnecessary duplication. For your own reassurance all responses will be acknowledged shortly after receipt. 4 | LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT INTRODUCTION | EXISTING CONTEXT | VISION | RAIL ROAD, AIR AND SEA | PUBLIC AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT | WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING ROADS MAINTENANCE | FORESTRY | ROAD SAFETY | PARKING | REDUCTION IN TRAVEL/LOW CARBON/ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The development of a Local Access and Transport Strategy 1.4 An important new aspect in the preparation of this new document is the (LATS) for the Scottish Borders is a key document for the Local incorporation of access alongside transport. It was felt that there were a Authority area, setting out what we consider to be the key number of synergies between these two disciplines and a joint approach transport and access issues affecting the Scottish Borders, along to the development of a strategy document would provide a number of with the Council’s proposed approach to these issues. benefits. 1.2 The document will also provide linkages to other key strategy 1.5 The Council also considers that there are strong linkages between documents such as the Strategic Development Plan for strategic transport planning and development planning, with transport Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland (SESplan), the Regional and accessibility being an important consideration in relation to future Transport Strategy, promoted by the South East Scotland development. Transport Partnership (SEStran) and the Local Development Plan for the Scottish Borders (LDP). The key aspects: 1.3 The publication of the previous Local Transport Strategy • Providing accessible and sustainable development document for the Scottish Borders was in 2008. • Promoting town centres • Providing green networks around towns • Ensuring that development does not adversely impact on the transport network • Identifying requirements for developer contributions to help mitigate against any adverse impact on the transport network from development. LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT | 5 1.6 This Main Issues Report (MIR) provides the basis for consultation on the Local Access and Transport Strategy. It provides what we consider to be the key transport and access related issues that currently affect the Scottish Borders and asks a number of specific questions that will help mould our approach. 1.7 It is anticipated that the MIR will be available for consultation over a twelve week period during which there will be a number of events to publicise and explain the proposed strategy in more detail and to encourage public participation. 1.8 Following consultation, there will be a report to Council to consider the public response and to agree the proposed strategy approach. 6 | LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT INTRODUCTION | EXISTING CONTEXT | VISION | RAIL ROAD, AIR AND SEA | PUBLIC AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT | WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING ROADS MAINTENANCE | FORESTRY | ROAD SAFETY | PARKING | REDUCTION IN TRAVEL/LOW CARBON/ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY MAIN ISSUES REPORT 2. EXISTING CONTEXT THE SCOTTISH BORDERS 2.1 Introduction 2.1.3 The low densities of population in the area make long journeys necessary in order to reach centres with educational, medical, shopping and leisure 2.1.1 The Scottish Borders Council area is the 6th largest Local facilities, with the Scottish Government classifying a third of our area as Authority in Scotland in terms of land mass and has a total being remote rural in nature. The area has one of the longest lengths of population of around 114,000 based on the data collected in the road in Scotland with approximately 1,900 miles of adopted routes. 2011 census. 2.1.2 The Scottish Borders is a rural Local Authority where 30% of the population lives in settlements of under 500 people or in small hamlets. The largest town is Hawick with a 2011 Census population of 14,029, followed by Galashiels with 12,604 – although, if neighbouring Tweedbank were included, Galashiels would be the largest town in the Scottish Borders with a population of 14,705. The only other towns with a population of over 5,000 people are Peebles, Kelso and Selkirk. LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT | 7 FIGURE 2.1 – LOCATION PLAN 8 | LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY | MAIN ISSUES REPORT INTRODUCTION | EXISTING CONTEXT | VISION | RAIL ROAD, AIR AND SEA | PUBLIC AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT | WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING ROADS MAINTENANCE | FORESTRY | ROAD SAFETY | PARKING | REDUCTION IN TRAVEL/LOW CARBON/ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION 2.2 Age Profile 2.2.3 This demographic profile has significant implications on the delivery of services into the future, especially in relation to the provision of care, on 2.2.1 The National Records of Scotland project a slight increase in our future workforce and on economic development. population for the Scottish Borders between 2012 and 2027 and then a slight decline and a return to 2012 population levels by 2037. These 2.3 Economy projections along with a comparison with the whole of Scotland are shown in Figure 2.2 below. 2.3.1 It can be noted that the Scottish Borders has a smaller proportion of people of working age compared to Scotland and this is likely to FIGURE 2.2 – POPULATION PROJECTIONS continue. Also average earnings are lower in the Scottish Borders 1, being consistently below the Scottish average. Since 2001, wages for Population Projections for the Scottish Borders (2012-based) people working in the Borders have increased by only 5%, compared to and % change compared to Scotland an increase of almost 38% at the Scottish level. 116,000 2.5% 2.3.2 Compared to Scotland, there is a higher reliance in employment terms 114,000 2.0% on wholesale/retail, manufacturing, health and public sector activity, 112,000 1.5% and lower than average levels of employment in financial, professional and business support service sectors. We also have a higher proportion 110,000 1.0% of employment in managerial and senior occupations, indicative of the 108,000 0.5% reliance, in employment terms, on the public sector for employment for 106,000 0.0% both the Scottish Borders and Scotland as a whole.
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