Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Economic Development – presented by the Sustainable Transport Manager and Traffic Management Section Manager, Regeneration and Economic Development.

The Chairman thanked the Sustainable Transport Manager, Andy Leadbeater and the Traffic Management Section Manager, Dave Lewin who were in attendance to give an update for Members in relation to Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) and Transit 15 (for copy see file of minutes).

The Sustainable Transport Manager reminded Members that the LTP was a strategic document, now in its third form, LTP3, with the Department for Transport (DfT) having set no end date for the latest versions of the LTP.  It was added that Transit 15 was originally set out in LTP2, securing £5 million from the Regional Allocation Fund (RAF) for a corridor approach for bus priority schemes.  Councillors noted that national DfT goals and objectives were adopted, with alignment to corporate priorities including: “Stronger Economy through Regeneration; reducing our carbon output; safer and healthier travel; better accessibility to services; and improve quality of life and a healthy natural environment.  Members were reminded that for County Durham a sixth goal complimented the others, namely “maintenance of the transport asset”, to reflect the importance of the existing highways network.

Councillors noted that LTP3 was split into 2 main areas, the Integrated Transport Block (ITB) for Regeneration and Economic Development (RED) and a Maintenance Block (MB) for Neighbourhood Services (NS).  The Traffic Management Section Manager explained that within the ITB there were three main areas: sustainable travel; demand management; Economic/Transport Corridors; and set out examples within each area.  An example of a scheme that met many objectives was that being undertaken at the “Northlands” roundabout at Chester-le-Street, a fully planned and funded scheme, and being a Transit 15 corridor.

The Sustainable Transport Manager informed Members that funding from the DfT was changing and that there was an aim to try and maintain similar amounts in future.  It was added that future changes, the formation of the Combined Authority (CA), would lead to a single LTP for the CA area, with work on this to begin in the next year.

The Chairman thanked the Sustainable Transport Manager and the Traffic Management Section Manager and asked Members for their questions on the update.

Councillors asked questions relating to: voice notifications for blind people regarding buses and approaching bus stops and whether Transit 15 corridors took into account new business opportunities in determining bus routes, examples being the new Hitachi site at Newton Aycliffe and new businesses at Crook.

The Sustainable Transport Manager explained that public transport investment included a new system that would roll out next year, with a “next stop” announcement.  It was noted that Transit 15 and LTP3 were capital based schemes and the issues as regards bus routes was a linked, but separate issue.  It was explained that the Council worked with operators in relation to identifying gaps in routes, subsidising if possible, and the work included the involvement of Public Transport Network Manager and Economic Regeneration Manager in removing barriers and network planning.  

Resolved:

That the report be noted.