Local Transport Plan 2007-2011

The second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) for West Berkshire sets out a transport planning policy framework and strategy for the delivery of local transport measures over the next five years, within the context of a longer term local transport vision.

The Local Transport Plan (LTP) Delivery Report (attached on the right), gives details of West Berkshire's performance within the transport sector during the first Local Transport Plan period of 2001 to 2006. This summary document highlights the main achievements and was produced as required by Government and published in July 2006.

This page sets out some background information relating to LTP2 and provides access to the main document, the accompanying strategies and the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the final LTP2.

Background to Local Transport Plans:

Every five years West Berkshire Council is required to adopt a Local Transport Plan (LTP). The documents accessible on the right hand side comprise the Second Local Transport Plan for the period 2006/07 - 2010/ 11. The Plan sets out in broad terms the transport planning policy framework for the next ten to fifteen years along with a five year programme of delivery.

Contents of the Second Local Transport Plan:

It includes the following:

· A vision for transport;

· A long term transport strategy and objectives;

· A five year programme of delivery bringing together Capital, Revenue and S 106 money;

· Indicators and Targets to monitor, measure and manage performance.

Chapter 1 outlines the LTP process and sets out the structure and content of the document and is followed by Chapter 2 which assesses the context within which LTP2 has been produced.  The relationship between the Local Transport Plan and other plans and strategies including the Council's Corporate Plan and the emerging Local Development Framework are discussed within Chapter 2.

Vision

Chapter 3 sets out the transport vision of "developing sustainable transport solutions for all" and the factors that have helped influence this vision.

Chapter 4 reflects the social, economic and physical characteristics of West Berkshire identifying key issues and opportunities. Of particular focus is the extent to which the national transport 'shared priority' identified by Government affects the district. The transport shared priority is described by the Department for Transport as having four elements

· improving accessibility and public transport

· reducing problems of congestion

· tackling pollution

· and road safety.

The section concludes that the shared priority has a variable impact on the district. The most significant issue is accessibility. Road safety is also important, although West Berkshire is making good progress in this area. Congestion is not widespread in the district however there are congestion hotspots which, if not managed, have the potential to spread. These hot spots are subject to specific measures outlined later in the Plan. Perhaps the least problematic area in transport terms relates to pollution. Annual monitoring indicates that air quality is within acceptable limits, suggesting that the pollution element of the shared priority for transport is not a key concern in the district.

The diversity of West Berkshire is highlighted in Chapter 4, which has led to the identification of three broad geographical areas as a basis for planning. These are: the Urban Area of Newbury and Thatcham; Eastern Urban Area; and Rural West Berkshire. The same geographical areas are also shown in the Preferred Options for the West Berkshire Planning Strategy.

Chapter 5 introduces the long term transport planning policy framework which is based upon the principles of reduce, manage and invest as explained below:
Reduce - the number of journeys made where this does not adversely affect quality of life;

Manage - existing transport networks efficiently and effectively;

Invest - in additional capacity and other measures where appropriate.

This framework is informed by objectives, modal and theme based strategies, resources (financial and human) and political will. The last two elements of the long term transport planning policy framework are critical components necessary for day to day delivery of the Local Transport Plan. The objectives and strategies that accompany the Plan are detailed below.

Objectives:

In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and taking into account the evidence upon which the Local Transport Plan is based, five objectives have been identified. These are:

· To improve travel choice and encourage sustainable travel;

· To maintain and make the best use of West Berkshire's transport assets for all modes;

· To improve access to employment, education, health care, retail and leisure opportunities;

· To improve and promote opportunities for healthy and safe travel;

· To minimise the impact of all forms of travel on the environment.

Strategies

There are seven strategies that accompany the second Local Transport Plan. Four of these are based on different transport modes (Cycling, Passenger Transport, Walking and Freight), the other three focus on themes of Accessibility, Road Safety, and Travel Planning. Each of the strategies support the principles of reduce, manage and invest. The strategies include details of priorities for delivery based on the three geographic areas of the District.  Chapter 6 helps illustrate how a policy framework has been developed through individual strategies and how the LTP2 Objectives link through with the strategies.

All Strategies, with the exception of the Accessibility Strategy (Annex A), can be downloaded by clicking on the relevant icons on the right-hand side of this page.  Should you like a copy of the Accessibility Strategy, your local library should have a copy, alternatively, get in touch with the Transport Policy Team who will organise a CD version for you.

Chapter 7 sets out how the Council proposes to manage and maintain its most obvious transport asset, the West Berkshire local road network.

Chapter 8 of the Local Transport Plan provides details of West Berkshire's delivery programme over the next five years as identified in the Council's Capital Strategy and Programme and its Medium Term Financial Strategy. This chapter also considers the contribution that developer contributions make to the delivery of the Plan. This delivery programme is expressed in relation to the five objectives of the Local Transport Plan. The chapter concludes with a summary of the Scheme Assessment Matrix which determines which projects go forward to implementation.

Performance Monitoring and Management

The approach to performance monitoring and management is discussed in Chapter 9. There are a number of mandatory indicators provided by the Department for Transport that West Berkshire has to monitor. In addition, several local indicators are proposed. Each indicator has a target and together, these provide a clear route through which the effectiveness of the delivery programme can be assessed in meeting the objectives of the Local Transport Plan. The various ways in which the Council manages its performance are outlined in the second part of this section, including the Council's approach to Risk Management.

The last chapter provides an opportunity to raise issues that will become important during the life of the second Local Transport Plan but are at too early a stage for the full impact to be accounted for. Examples of developments referred to in this section include the proposals at AWE and the Racecourse in Newbury.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Throughout the development of the second Local Transport Plan, a detailed SEA has been undertaken to ensure that the Local Transport Plan is not adversely affecting the environment. This process has helped to inform the drafting and direction of the Plan.  The final SEA Statement can be found in Appendix 2 of the LTP document.

Partnership Working

Unlike the preparation of the Local Development Framework, there is no formal requirement for consultation on the Local Transport Plan. However guidance from the Department for Transport indicates the importance of partnership working. To this end, the Transport Action Group (TAG) of the Local Strategic Partnership was closely involved, working alongside officers to steer and advise on the development of the Plan. A number of sub groups of TAG were formed focusing for example on travel planning, passenger transport and walking. These sub groups have worked on the development of the individual strategies that accompany the Local Transport Plan. In addition, the work of the various Vision groups across the district and the outcome of Parish Plans has helped to inform the shape of the future delivery programme.