Sustainable
Transport By Norman Baker, Minister of Transport
This Coalition Government is fully focused on building a modern transport system: one that connects our communities and supports our businesses, generates economic growth and helps job creation, cuts carbon and contributes towards a cleaner, greener environment. If our transport networks are to achieve all these ends then they have to be sustainable.
In the longer-term, our efforts to ensure sustainability are focused on key measures in areas such as road and rail travel. For example, through our “Plug-In Car Grant,” and “Plugged-In-Places” infrastructure programme, we are positioning Britain to be a global leader in the demonstration, design, manufacture and use of low and ultra-low emission vehicles. We are also committed to the development of a truly national high speed rail network. This radical railways’ modernisation will transform the way Britain works and competes in the 21st century. But it also has the potential to encourage an eco-friendly modal shift of people and goods from air transport in particular.
Two thirds of all the journeys we make are less than five miles – many of which can be taken by walking, cycling or taking public transport. So, in the more immediate term, addressing shorter, local trips offers significant potential benefits. It is estimated that traffic congestion alone costs the economy around £11 billion a year while the problems of physical inactivity, air quality and noise cost society up to £25 billion annually. And perhaps surprisingly, research shows that people who walk, cycle or use the bus to the shops also spend between 5% and 15% more
– increasing turnover in the local high street. In other words, encouraging and supporting people to make more sustainable, smarter local transport choices today makes sound economic sense. But it can also play a crucial part in cutting pollution, improving our individual health and enhancing our collective quality of life. That’s a genuine transport win-win.
A major milestone on our journey to a more sustainable transport future was taken in January, when I launched the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund and the associated White Paper, “Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon.’” The White Paper provides practical guidance to local authorities on ways they can develop more sustainable transport schemes to help them achieve objectives in their Local Transport Plans. We are very keen to receive bids for the new Fund from local authorities which are in partnership with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, with the support of local businesses. In this way, we can capture the most innovative ideas to meet local transport needs. By providing local authorities with a real opportunity to make the smarter travel choice the viable travel choice, the potential of the Sustainability Fund to make a positive difference is enormous.
The Fund forms part of a wider picture of Government measures to devolve power to local communities, ending the era of top down decision making which ignored the specific needs and behaviour patterns of local people. In short, it is the practical embodiment of our belief in localism. Ultimately, the local level is the best place in which to devise local solutions to local challenges.
For example, we have announced the Regional Growth Fund and Local Enterprise Partnerships to help stimulate local economies and place
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