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 Transport Vision |
A Community Vision for Transport
In 2007, Swindon Borough Council published a 20+ year forward look at transport for the town, called 'Vision for Transport: 2030'. As part of the consultation on the vision, Swindon Borough Council commissioned Halcrow to conduct a series of focus groups among Swindon stakeholders. Their report, published in November 2007, revealed a high level of concern that the Vision's strategies would not deliver the degree of sustainable transport needed to address issues such as climate change, congestion, obesity and public amenity. Overwhelmingly, it was felt that the Council's Vision had too much focus on road building, car travel and car-parking at the expense of public transport and other alternatives to car use.
Wanting to offer the Council constructive suggestions for a more sustainable transport vision, over a dozen local groups worked together to develop a community response to the consultation. This 'Community Transport Vision' takes a joined up approach across all the issues affected by transport and has at its core, investment in real alternatives to the private car, accompanied by strategies for reducing overall traffic and CO2 emissions from the transport sector.
We are seeking support for this Community Vision - please contact us if you or the group you represent wish to register your support. We hope to work with the Council to ensure its current Vision is revised, to focus on a low-carbon, integrated transport system that puts Swindon back on the map as a transport innovation town.
A Community Vision for Transport: 2030 - An Integrated, Sustainable Transport System (a pdf version is also available)
Introduction
All party support for the UK Climate Change Bill paves the way for a step-change in sustainable development. The Bill will become law in 2008 and is likely to require an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. It recognises that great economic opportunities exist for communities that lead the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Road Transport must play its part in reducing CO2 emissions and promoting a low-carbon economy [1]. Firstly, because it is a large part of the problem (accounting for approximately quarter of the UK’s CO2 emissions) and secondly because the technologies and political will for low-carbon transport already exist.
Swindon faces particular transport challenges – our traffic growth is already twice the national average [2] and yet our population is expected to increase dramatically.
Swindon needs a sustainable transport system and, if we make the right choices now, is in a strong position to develop one: we have a history of transport innovation, the Council owns the local bus company, we are piloting some innovative schemes [3] and there is public support for strategies to make Swindon economically and environmentally sustainable. Respondents to the consultation on the Council’s Transport Vision during Autumn/Winter 2007 overwhelmingly asked the Council for less focus on road building, car travel and car-parking and more focus on public transport and other alternatives to car use [4]. This document is a community response to the desire of Swindon's residents for a better Transport Vision.
This community vision has been developed by a broad alliance of Swindon groups. It takes a bold but practical, joined-up approach to tackling growth, congestion, climate change, pollution, health and quality of life. At its core is investment in real alternatives to the private car, accompanied by strategies for reducing overall traffic and CO2 emissions from the transport sector.
The Community Vision for Transport
A low carbon, integrated sustainable transport system (ISTS) will be created for Swindon and its villages. The ISTS will provide cheap and convenient door-to-door bus, bike, and pedestrian transport options, that are more attractive than private car use for the majority of people on the majority of journeys. It will bring about step-change increases in bus use, cycling and walking and reductions in car use. It will reduce congestion and bring many other benefits, including reduced CO2 emissions, obesity and pollution and increased public health and social inclusion.
It will be achieved by redirecting Swindon’s transport investments from increasing road and parking capacity towards building a sustainable transport system. The ISTS will be fully integrated with land use planning and environmental (including air quality and climate change) planning.
The ISTS will put Swindon on the map as one of Europe’s most sustainable towns
The Strategies
Six strategies to deliver the Community Transport Vision are outlined here.
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This Community Vision was developed by: |
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| Members of Highworth Women's Institute | Swindon Oxfam |
| North Wiltshire Council for the Protection of Rural England | Swindon Ramblers |
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Swindon Bicycle Users Group |
Swindon Sustrans Rangers |
| Swindon Climate Action Network | Swindon Trades Union Council |
| Swindon Friends of the Earth | Swindon Young Greens |
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With contributions from: |
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| Active Swindon | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust |
| Swindon Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme |
Originally published on 7th March 2008
| 1. |
Department for Transpoprt “Towards a sustainable transport system: supporting economic growth in a low carbon world”. |
| 2. |
Department for Transpoprt. 10.2% increase in vehicle miles travelled in Swindon over 2001-2006, compared with 4.1% across Britain. |
| 3. |
Sustainable Transport initiatives and pilot studies being piloted in
Swindon, with support of Swindon Borough Council include: Home Zones, Safe Routes to School, Travelwise, and Sustrans Bike it! |
| 4. |
Report of SBC Transport Vision Consultation Workshops |