Published: 08 January 2004
Sustainable Transport
Seven English towns are competing to receive funding through the Department for Transport's (DfT) multi-million pound Sustainable Transport Town initiative, Transport Minister Kim Howells MP has announced.
The DfT has set aside £7.5 million to help develop plans for sustainable transportation in two towns in England, as part of a 5-year project.
These towns will incorporate all aspects of best practice to encourage walking, cycling and other public transport use and act as showcases for other towns wishing to promote greater travel choice.
The shortlisted towns are:
1. Halifax,
2. Darlington,
3. Peterborough,
4. Worcester,
5. Hereford,
6. Wolverhampton and
7. Weston-Super-Mare.
Each will now submit fully worked-up plans to deliver a sustainable transport scheme through reducing car dependency, tackling traffic congestion and helping the provision of a wider diversity of modes of transport for the public.
The towns on the shortlist were chosen from fifty outline schemes submitted at the end of September.
Each entry has been assessed on the following criteria:
- value for money,
- partnership initiatives,
- ability & expertise,
- suitability of town and
- evaluation proposals.
The two winning towns will be
announced in 2004.
The DfT has only earmarked a total of £1.5 million a year for each year of this new project,
On the move: in town, over the financial years 2004/2005 to 2008/09.
This will help support the revenue costs of measures such as:
- school, work and personalised travel planning,
- marketing,
- promoting car sharing and
- providing facilities for walkers & cyclists.
In turn, the local authority partner is expected to develop an overarching strategy for the town and put in place infrastructure, which at least matches best practice for promoting quick, safe and pleasant travel by all modes.
Participating local authorities will also be expected to make a
significant contribution to the costs of the project.
(Which means that, for relatively little money, the government can claim the credit if the schemes work, but blame the LA's for lack of investment, if it fails).
Further information
On the move: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=8294&l=2
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
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