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Strategy updated to reflect changing use of Blackpool Airport
Passenger traffic is growing rapidly at Blackpool International Airport. In 2001 the airport’s level of activity was around 100,000 passenger movements per annum; in 2005 the passenger numbers reached 356,000.
We are working with Blackpool International Airport to improve sustainable access. An analysis has been made of existing surface access arrangements, including public transport facilities in and close to the airport, identifying constraints and opportunities to secure modal shift as airport-related demand and employment grow at the airport. The airport has an Air Transport Forum to address travel issues. Adding to this, Lancashire Economic Partnership has commissioned a Social and Economic Impact Study for the airport. We have and will continue to work with the airport to implement and update the Surface Access Strategy, which will reduce dependency upon cars and a Travel Plan for passengers, staff and visitors.
The development of public transport has improved access to the regional airports in Manchester and Liverpool. The railway station at Manchester International Airport is served by trains from Barrow, Windermere and Blackpool running via Preston and Chorley. Liverpool South Parkway Interchange, opened by Merseytravel in 2006, gives greatly improved access to John Lennon Airport.Strategy implemented broadly as planned with successful outcomes.
Air Quality management is essential in order to achieve the statutory air quality objectives. We have worked closely with a number of Districts and consultants in the preparation of air quality assessment reports, this included provision of transport related data. We have also been involved in a District led Air Quality Working Group and has assisted in the process of declaring six AQMAs within three Districts.
An environmental model for Preston has been produced which considered transport related air quality and noise levels. The UTMC system used in urban areas of the County is designed to optimise flows and reduce pollution. A survey in Preston, after the introduction of the system, indicated reduced journey times at peak hours leading to reduced pollution levels.
Analysis was carried out for major proposals to determine the impacts of measures
Transport schemes, wherever possible, have included environmental consideration not only of air quality but also of noise.
For example, Lancashire has employed thin bituminous layers in several resurfacing schemes which have proved effective in
reducing tyre noise. Surface treatments for traffic calming which do cause tyre noise are not used where they would affect
people.
The target to restrain growth in the number of journeys crossing urban cordons and inter urban screenlines to 5% has been achieved. Specific figures are:
Monitoring Air Quality in the ITS strategy is one element of the project. To date transport monitoring equipment has been installed and currently observes transport movements and congestion. Cost/benefits of air quality modules were not favourable and replaced by periodic monitoring and modelling.
Strategy implemented broadly as planned.
Through the Lancashire Environment Partnership, we have published Lancashire Environment Strategy 2005-2010. Key Actions include;
for Climate Change - Reduce dependence on private car use, and
for Health and Environment -Reduce levels of pollution from transport.
Programmes to encourage active travel, promote public transport, manage traffic better and tackle congestion have all reduced the emission of greenhouse gases locally and contributed to a better global environment. The EU CIVITAS project 2005-2009 is a demonstration scheme to promote sustainable transport in Preston and South Ribble.
We have worked with schools to promote transport awareness and produce 158 School Travel Plans. The plans have been effective in meeting our target of a 10% reduction in children travelling to Primary School by car. The impact on Secondary schools has been less pronounced with a reduction of 7% over the LTP1 period.
The County Council's staff travel plan has reduced single occupancy car journeys from 61.6% to 49% over the LTP1 period.
We promote Walk to School Week and Bike to Work Day. We also promoted a ten week Travel Awareness campaign in the Lancaster and Morecambe conurbation. This proved to be a useful precursor to two current schemes in Lancaster, the Cycling Demonstration Project and the Personalised Travel Planning exercise.
We have worked with major employers to meet our target of over 225 Business Travel Plans during the five year period.
We have worked closely with health providers to promote active travel to benefit both individuals and the environment.
Strategy implemented broadly as planned
Lancashire has been eminent in its care for the environment. It produced its first Green Audit in 1991. The LTP is underpinned by the Lancashire Environment Strategy 2005-10 and the Woodland Vision of March 2006. The Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan states that grasslands probably constitute the majority of habitat types found on Lancashire’s road verges. Management prescriptions for Special Verges are incorporated into road verge management contracts.
The Beyond LA21 website gives details of the County Council’s Environmental Management Strategy. It describes how we are responding to the sustainable development agenda within Lancashire.Strategy exceeded LTP1 proposals
We have made substantial progress in delivering rural accessibility. Further funding from the DfT, DEFRA, Countryside Agency and NWDA has enabled us to implement additional rural programmes. We have successfully introduced rural transport to essential services. We have also completed schemes to deliver services more locally. To add value, these have been co-ordinated to support one another wherever possible. Schemes have been rural proofed to ensure their effectiveness.
Integrating transport and accessibility with other programmes;
Through the Lancashire Rural Partnership we introduced the Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan in 2002. Lancashire Rural Futures was set up in 1999 as Bowland Initiative, one of two national pathfinders for MAFF/DEFRA, and is cited in the Rural White Paper as an exemplary case study for integrated sustainable rural development. It has received an RTPI National Award for Planning Achievement.
We have worked with;
We have also given our support to other programmes including the Market Towns Initiative and the Lancashire Rural Tourism Initiative.
Rural transport infrastructure;
Bus/rail interchanges at Carnforth, Clitheroe and Burscough Bridge.
Real time information on Carnforth and Silverdale services.
Rural transport services introduced;
Conventional bus services funded by Rural Bus Grant.
DRT buses transport funded by Rural Bus Challenge; Carnforth Connect, Garstang Super 8, Bowland Transit, Pendle Wayfarer.
Dial-a-Ride buses and services to healthcare; Ribble Valley Rider, Rossendale County Rider, Kirkham Link, Wyldefyre, Transport
to Health, Red Rose Runner.
Silverdale Shuttle bus from village to railway station.
Community Transport and Communicars.
Schemes completed to improve access and promote rural tourism;
National Cycling Network; Lancashire is at the hub of the NCN in the north and we have completed 60% of the routes in Lancashire.
Mary Towneley Loop, Pennine Bridleway National Trail, 68km completed May 2002.
North Lancashire Bridleway Phase 1, 45km, completed June 2004.
River Lune Millennium Park; multi-user path from Caton via Lancaster to Sunderland Point. Extended by Remade in Lancashire
along former railway to Glasson Dock, 2006. Total length 28km.
Integrated Access Demonstration Programme - Access All Areas - one of six national pilots for Countryside Agency to measure
and satisfy demand for access from all users - walkers, cyclists, horse riders and people with physical difficulties.
Low mobility trails plus electric buggies; 3 at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve, September 2004, and 3 at Beacon Fell Country
Park, June 2005.
Open access under the CRoW Act to 40,500 hectares in Bowland and 23,000 hectares in West Pennines, an increase of 89% in the
upland areas of the County with public access rights, September 2004.
Quiet Roads and Greenways around Chipping and Slaidburn. Phase 1, 2004; Phase 2 Consultation 2005, construction programmed for 2006.
Waterways schemes; The Ribble Link Navigation is the first canal to be constructed in this country for 100 years. It will give boats access to the Lancaster Canal. The Waterbus carries residents and tourists daily between Lancaster and Carnforth. The Knott End ferry links rural Over Wyre to Fleetwood.
Services delivered to rural communities
Access to services without travelling; The Enterprising Rural Communities programme has completed the construction of ten Community Resource Centres, with four more programmed, to enable vital activities and services to remain in villages.
Access to information without travelling; The Lancashire and Cumbria regional broadband consortium has linked colleges (CANLMAN), schools (CLEO, Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online) and Community Resource Centres. Lancashire County Council has made local information available online through MARIO, (Maps And Related Information Online), and reference material through the Lancashire On Line Reference Library. 12 Mobile Libraries serve areas remote from static libraries and 3 custom built Library Link vehicles with easy access visit nursing and residential homes. A domiciliary service delivers books to people who are housebound.
Greater value can be gained from programmes when they are when they support one another. New rural bus services and a programme of 14 new Community Resource Centres have both contributed to greatly improved access to services. It has not always been easy to coordinate schemes when they are funded from different programmes. DfT funding supports a new bus scheme for three years, which may not be long enough to establish the service securely within the local community. It also may not be long enough to ensure that it can serve a particular resource centre in a community led programme that has to respond to local opportunities and difficulties.
We are working on two initiatives to deliver our rural schemes more effectively. In September 2005 the Lancashire Rural Delivery Pathfinder began a study to inform future decision-making and public service delivery. The new Accessibility Strategy in the second LTP will strengthen partnership working to produce sustainable solutions to access problems.Moving goods in a sustainable manner is a key government policy. Industry has long considered road freight to be the best way of distributing goods. However, with the expanding global markets freight journeys are increasing in distance as well as frequency. Consequently alternatives such as rail freight are now being promoted. Services delivered here include the construction of a new level crossing to Preston docks estate to promote rail freight to the oil terminal. This scheme delivered a transfer of over 80,000 tonnes of oil from road to rail in the first year of operation.
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