Gloucestershire Strategic Partnership

“Tackling the transport (and access) issue” Report of “virtual” Transport Working Group Peter Bungard Executive Director Gloucestershire County Council

Who says it’s a problem? Everyone! 6 District LSPs and GSP partners Every survey we’ve ever undertaken How does it fit with GSP structure? Transport and access to services are relevant to all of the themes, e.g. economy, learning, safety, health, thriving communities

What has the “virtual” group done? Listened: looked up every reference to transport in GSP work to date Drawn up a “what’s broke list!” Recognised that transport is the day job of several partners Asked the embarrassing question: “if it’s already your day job, why is it still broke?” Honed in on GSP territory – where the problems are lack of ownership and engagement by other partners Produced a “draft” action plan from partner views (still missing health and police input) Tried to spot whether: o Easy or tough o A solution in mind, or still a challenge

A quick health warning Most statutory transport responsibilities lie with the County Council as a highways or transport authority If transport continues just to be seen as primarily GCC’s problem, we are still likely to have most elements of the current problems in 5 years’ time I should stress that the words in the action plan which I’m about to present are either from partners or frontline transport service providers – not me!

The day job bits: “The state of our roads”! Road safety: children and motorcyling focus Poor rail services Street lighting The quality of our “street scene” Missing infrastructure and unreliable journeys: o A417 missing link o M5 closed every week o Poor access into the Forest of Dean o No railfreight facilities in Gloucestershire Public transport: perceived high cost; reliability?; too remote for many Building new sustainable communities; regeneration The journey to work – 14 miles and growing – and car dependent Poor travel information Mostly live initiatives in place – but several where GSP partner discussion would add value

The partner bits: Transport: well, it’s about vehicles! We’ve got plenty So have I You’ll ruin my bus if I let you play with it Growing the Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme Car share initiatives Mobile services to communities Growing the Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme Car share initiatives Mobile services to communities

Poor access for people with mobility problems It’s about getting on public transport But I can’t get into the buildings when I get there No, it’s the footways, blocked by bushes, full of potholes, and no dropped kerbs Public Transport: Low floor, “kneeling” buses – old stock being replaced Bus stop improvements Get more out of community transport – usually fully accessible Make community transport mainstream Accessibility planning Highway Infrastructure: Develop a guide It’s the small things that matter – the car blocking the pavement, puddles, etc. Buildings: DDA has come in – major improvements, or withdrawals Public Transport: Low floor, “kneeling” buses – old stock being replaced Bus stop improvements Get more out of community transport – usually fully accessible Make community transport mainstream Accessibility planning Highway Infrastructure: Develop a guide It’s the small things that matter – the car blocking the pavement, puddles, etc. Buildings: DDA has come in – major improvements, or withdrawals

Fear of crime on public transport (and walking) … at bus stops … poor street lighting Safety on buses at night Drug problems at interchanges … limited police presence Statistically public transport is safe, but perceptions count CDRP work Better lighting at bus stops Help points at major bus stops More usage = more security More door to door transport solutions CCTV on buses? Special late night services Statistically public transport is safe, but perceptions count CDRP work Better lighting at bus stops Help points at major bus stops More usage = more security More door to door transport solutions CCTV on buses? Special late night services

Rural access to education It’s ok up to 16, what’s the problem? But I’ve taken the course that I could reach, not the one for my career ambitions Work by post-16 Education Partnership Accessibility planning Jump2Ed initiative Colleges using Glos minibus scheme? More use of community transport The role of internet/distance learning Work by post-16 Education Partnership Accessibility planning Jump2Ed initiative Colleges using Glos minibus scheme? More use of community transport The role of internet/distance learning

Access to health care (particularly rural) Most people can get to their GP ok Access to hospital is a much greater challenge, particularly Gloucester Royal Success of Integrated Transport Health Project in South Cotswolds Plan to roll out to whole county Co-ordination between appointment times and available transport initiatives – the Newent example Greater ownership of “transport medical services” by NHS Hospital “postcode” appointment booking, e.g. Friday a.m. for Dursley Accessibility planning work Success of Integrated Transport Health Project in South Cotswolds Plan to roll out to whole county Co-ordination between appointment times and available transport initiatives – the Newent example Greater ownership of “transport medical services” by NHS Hospital “postcode” appointment booking, e.g. Friday a.m. for Dursley Accessibility planning work

Lack of evening and Sunday bus services I’ve not got a car – I’m isolated Younger people can’t go anywhere in rural areas Really impacts on people with mobility problems Improved information about existing services Think community based solutions through partnerships: car schemes, minibuses, taxis, even mopeds Government initiative of “kick start” for evening and Sundays Extend Jump Start to urban areas Improved information about existing services Think community based solutions through partnerships: car schemes, minibuses, taxis, even mopeds Government initiative of “kick start” for evening and Sundays Extend Jump Start to urban areas

Inability to access leisure and make social trips I can reach essential services, but this is not enough There are no facilities for spontaneous activities among people with mobility impairments, especially young people with disabilities Accessibility planning to identify and understand demand Growth of Glos Minibus Scheme Taxilink services for Forest, Painswick and Chedworth And replicate if successful Accessibility planning to identify and understand demand Growth of Glos Minibus Scheme Taxilink services for Forest, Painswick and Chedworth And replicate if successful

Declining bus use in Stroud! Why? Bus use growing in every other district Ongoing debate with bus companies Some recent growth A bus quality partnership? Multi-agency engagement to sell the potential Review the shape of the network Ongoing debate with bus companies Some recent growth A bus quality partnership? Multi-agency engagement to sell the potential Review the shape of the network

Citizenship issues A declining volunteer base, but a future based on community transport! Volunteering in transport started with hospital cars – but now journeys are too long Misbehaviour on buses; vandalism Volunteer recruitment/retention strategy developing Pooling of volunteers needed Need to recruit from new areas – younger people Convince employers of the benefits of staff engagement – offer training Behaviour issues – CCTV on buses Travel training project in November Driving attitude – not that bad in Gloucestershire New Traffic Management Act more powers to control poor roadworks Volunteer recruitment/retention strategy developing Pooling of volunteers needed Need to recruit from new areas – younger people Convince employers of the benefits of staff engagement – offer training Behaviour issues – CCTV on buses Travel training project in November Driving attitude – not that bad in Gloucestershire New Traffic Management Act more powers to control poor roadworks Driving attitude, road rage and flaunting traffic laws

Road safety Ageing population; statistically more accidents, often eyesight related Cheltenham’s “boy racer” problem! Speeding is socially acceptable! Older drivers – the County Council SAGE programme Can we get more eye/health checks for older drivers? Expand education with young drivers Speeding – make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving, but most political parties are backing away from hardline speed reduction Older drivers – the County Council SAGE programme Can we get more eye/health checks for older drivers? Expand education with young drivers Speeding – make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving, but most political parties are backing away from hardline speed reduction

Night-time economy Why can’t you link nightclub licensing with the transport problems they cause? Taxi capacity is exceeded at pub and nightclub closing times Pilots of nightclub buses for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud Add a responsibility to venues to tackle end of night transport issues and the consequences of alcohol related disorder Pilots of nightclub buses for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud Add a responsibility to venues to tackle end of night transport issues and the consequences of alcohol related disorder

CONGESTION Traffic continues to grow …. Car occupancy is falling (1.2) Kids no longer walk to school – major traffic growth of last 20 years Health … walking and cycling … obesity Health … air pollution … congestion … asthma It will get worse … road building out of fashion … but economy will grow Why is this a partnership issue? - biggest transport problem to solve - if every partner/major employer takes ownership, it could make a real difference Ideas: - Workplace parking charges – and spend on buses - Even more work with schools - 9 day fortnights or home working - Major employer travel plans – economy loses from congestion - More promotion of alternatives - Congestion charging? Why is this a partnership issue? - biggest transport problem to solve - if every partner/major employer takes ownership, it could make a real difference Ideas: - Workplace parking charges – and spend on buses - Even more work with schools - 9 day fortnights or home working - Major employer travel plans – economy loses from congestion - More promotion of alternatives - Congestion charging?