Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Joanna Williams
University of Luton
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The criteria for sustainable transport systems were outlined in the “Draft Guide:
Advice on Strategic Planning Guidance for London” ( 1993), produced by the London
Planning Advisory Committee. The criteria included:
* The need to reduce emissions from all modes of transport
* The need to protect species and natural habitats
* The need to provide an environmentally friendly transport system which is
accessible to all people
In order to fulfil these criteria, the movement of both freight and people must be
reduced Also modal shift towards less environmentally damaging modes must be
encouraged. This requires planning of development and amenities to minimise travel
requirements: increasing the availability and attractiveness of the public transport
system and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists; ensuring that these alternatives are
affordable and accessible. The solutions regarding the creation of sustainable
transport systems, networks and strategies have been well documented in a variety of
literature, for example Deelstra’s Oppurlunities and Initiuiivesfiw Sustainable Tr@c
and h n s p o r t in (khan Regions in Iiurope ( I 992), Ecotec’s Reducing I<missrons
7’hroughI’lunning ( I 993). Glaister’s ’li.Cmspori Options fi,r Imxion (1991) and Hatt’s
Mriving 7iiward~Sustuinuhle Mobility (IY93). Indeed they have been implemented to
varying degrees in many urban environments. Thus the author shall not discuss the
more general issues here Instead this paper aims to briefly evaluate the situation in a
prestigious World City, London.
It is these influences which tend to ensure the rigidity of the existing system and
create problems in the implementation of a more sustainable transport strategy. In
addition, further complications including inadequate investment in sustainable
transport systems, lack of integration at a strategic level of transport networks and
land use planning. public opinion and expense of infrastructure; which prevent the
implementation of a sustainable transport strategy in London.
The major problems preventing the creation of a sustainable transport strateby in
London can be summarised as being:
* The lack of central government investment in an ageing public transport
network
* The lack of strategic vision and co-ordination within the transport system
* The relatively stable urban fabric which reduces the effect of land use
planning policies as a tool to implement sustainable transport
* Public opinion
To solve these problems would prove an enormous task. To provide the necessary
transport infrastructure would prove exceedingly expensive. Alternatively, to alter the
land use pattern thus reducing the need to travel would be a slow and difficult task.
Perhaps the greatest challenge of all would be to encourage the awareness of people
and freight using sustainable modes.
A questionnaire survey was carried out in the 13 boroughs, (see figure 1 ) to assess the
areas of research outlined above. Where information was insufficient, additional data
was obtained through the borough’s Transport Policy Programmes. Initially, an
inventory of ‘green’ initiatives within each borough was carried out, in order to
ascertain the existing framework for sustainable policy implementation. The results
are illustrated in figure 2.
A weighting system was constructed whereby those policies and initiatives which
fulfilled a greater number of criteria, scored a greater number of points. Weighting
was decided using the initiaI criteria outlined earlier. Broadly speaking the criteria
were sub-divided into 2 types: criteria for environmental protection and criteria for
accessibility. If a policy or initiative fulfilled only one criteria, either accessibility or
environmental criteria, then it scored less than those incorporating both. The London
Planning Advisory Committee criteria were more heavily biased towards
environmental protection, rather than accessibility, which was reflected in the point
weighting (see appendix 1).
For each borough the following study areas were assessed using the scoring system
described above.
* Traffic management initiatives (see figure 3)
* Modal shift initiatives (see figure 4)
* Transport accessibility and development initiatives (see figure 5 )
* Finance for initiatives (see figure 5)
* Borough policy (see figure 6 )
A total sustainability score was then calculated for each borough in the sample (see
figure 7) The boroughs were then ranked according to their sustainability score.
Further analysis was carried out relating the effect of the location of the borough and
political control on baseline policy and implementation (see figure 8).This study
provided an inventory of baseline transport policy and implementation, restrictive and
proactive transport strategies during 1994. Offering an evaluation of the
sustainability of transport strategies in London Boroughs before the implementation
ofPPG13.
A second study was carried out to assess the priontisation of the London Planning
Advisory Committee (LPAC) proposals and objectives for creating a sustainable
transport strategy. The key objectives and proposals as suggested by LPAC in Advice
on Strategic Planning Guidance for London (1994) were as follows:
Objectives:
Proposals
* Co-ordinate land use and transport planning ( 1 )
* Restrain car use (2)
3.3 Evaluation
It is,apparent that sustainability of borough transport strategy varies both with location
and political control , Political control appears to affect the borough policies and
expenditure relating to transport strategy. General trends indicate that those under
conservative control score a lower sustainability value. Those scoring higher for
sustainable transport are inner London, Labour-controlled boroughs (e.g. Camden,
Lewisham, and Southwark). The least sustainable transport strategies are operated in
outer London, Conservative-controlled boroughs (Bromley, Ealing and Bamet). The
most sustainable transport initiatives exist in inner London, Labour-controlled
boroughs, but the most sustainable transport policies are found in Outer London, non-
conservative controlled authorities including Sutton, Kingston and Havering.
Exceptions to these trends included Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston
and Havering. Wandsworth has the second most sustainable transport strategy in the
survey, an inner London, conservative-controlled borough. Kensington and Chelsea
has the least sustainable transport strategy of those boroughs surveyed, yet it is an
inner London borough.
In contrast Kensington and Chelsea has suffered from diversity of land use within the
borough and the fact that the area acts as a retail magnet. This causes problems with
heavy traffic flow in the areas of high retail concentration as a result of both
deliveries and shoppers. The provision of public transport services is excellent within
the areas of high retail concentration, but there are areas which are not adequately
serviced in the borough, leading to social isolation or increasing car use.
Social polarisation within the borough is extreme and thus accessibility issues arise.
Finally at this early stage Kensington and Chelsea had not truly considered the
implications of the revised version of PPG13, certainly not incorporated sustainable
policies into their Transport Policies Programme. However it is quite possible that in
the succeeding years this situation has been rectified and sustainable transport
policies have been incorporated into the more up-to-date version of the Transport
Policy Programme. However. Kensington and Chelsea still has major problems in
implementing such policies due to polarisation of the boroughs population and the
dispersed nature and lack of inter-connectivity between land use and transport
systems
Outer London boroughs transport policies are equally as sustainable as Inner London
boroughs transport policies ( see figure 8). Outer London boroughs consider that
transport efficiency, modal-diversity, environmental considerations and reduction in
travel are the main objectives in creating a sustainable transport strateby (see fig 9a).
All these are sustainable objectives, but because Outer London boroughs
have poor public transport links and land-use activities which are more dispersed,
(and further from major transport terminals), a great deal of expenditure would be
required to improve the transport network, to the level subscribed to in Inner London.
Changes in land-use pattern to increase densities in the suburbs, encourage focal
points and mixed-use development would also be required, in order to emulate the
lnner London. Thus, tt is likely that suburban boroughs will tend to have less
sustainable transport strategies. Without a great deal of expenditure and a change in
land-use pattern, this will not alter.
There were various findings relating to the boroughs response to LPAC’s objectives
and proposals for creating sustainable transport strategies ( listed in 3.2). The findings
indicated a wide variation in borough policy priorities, but consistency in priority for
inner London boroughs and similarly for outer London boroughs. Boroughs of all
types appear to view LPAC’s proposal to enhance international transport networks as
being of least importance, generally finding that transport efficiency and modal
diversity is highest ranked, ( although this varies with political control). The highest
ranked LPAC objective within the London boroughs also varies with location and
political control. The most important objectives according to inner London Labour-
controlled authorities and outer London non-conservative controlled authorities is the
promotion of development and regeneration through transport initiatives. The least
important objective for this group being the efficient use of scarce resources in
transport initiatives. The most important objective for outer London conservative-
controlled authorities and inner London conservative-controlled authorities is to
reduce travel and increase environmental consideration initiatives. The least
important objective being the need to increase accessibility of the transport system.
Consensus of opinion in these matters is lacking, especially within non-conservative
controlled boroughs in Outer London, which indicates the need for a London-wide,
strategic land use and transport planning body to co-ordinate strategy and opinion.
Finally it appears from the third assessment, that the majority of boroughs questioned
believe a London-wide transport and land-use planning body is needed to co-ordinate
and manage a sustainable transport strategy successfully, (see figure 10 ). The results
showed that 46% of those asked were in favour of a London-wide body of this sort,
23% were against, 15.5% abstained and the remaining 15.5% felt that the London
Planning Advisory Committee already fulfilled the role satisfactorily. Certainly the
lack of consensus between boroughs in prioritising LPAC’s objectives and proposals
for a sustainable transport strategy, suggest the need for some degree of co-ordination.
Also poor co-ordination of traffic management schemes London-wide point to a need
for overall co-ordination.
From this,’ respondents to the baseline study suggested various innovations to the
transport strategy in London.
* Re-use of canals and River Thames for freight and passenger transport
Finally the respondents highlighted the need for a co-ordinating body to implement
policies London-wide. It was suggested that this could be achieved through:
* The creation of a strategic London-wide body controlling transport and
development decisions on a London-wide basis, answerable ideally to a
democratically elected regional authority or a Minister for London.
* Such a body should be elected, but in order to allow continuity of policy
elections should take the following format-
- 25% of the members elected once every 2 years, on an 8 year election cycle.
- or a QUANGO of which half the representatives were elected by the
Secretary of State and half by proportional representation (on an 8-10 year
basis).
* The strategic body would co-ordinate land use and transport strategies,
promote modal shift and co-ordinate traffic restraint policies.
4.4 CONCLUSIONS
In conducting this research the author provides an outline of the situation regarding
sustainable transport policy and implementation at the introduction of the relevant
guidance 1994, including: the revised version ofPPG13 (1994); the Department of
Transport, Draft Guidance to Local Authorities on London’s Transport Policies and
Programmes for 1995-96 (1994); London Planning Advisory Committee, Strategic
Planning Guidance for London (1994).
Using this research the shortfalls in freight and passenger transport policy and
implementation during this period have been highlighted. By utilising this baseline
information, improvements in policy and implementation which have resulted from
the guidance in 1994 can be monitored, using the LPAC criteria listed in I .2. Also the
incorporation of LPAC’s proposals and objectives in borough transport strategies can
be monitored, as can the co-ordination of borough transport strategies on a London-
wide basis.
The author has mentioned here the instrumental role of governmental institutions in
the creation of policy and implementation. However, it must not be overlooked that
transport operators play a major part in provision, certainly for passenger transport.
Therefore, the impact of any change in policy or practice generated by the operator
must be monitored too. For example, the possibility of future deregulation of the bus
network and the certain privatisation of some parts of the rail network, will have
implications for both passenger and freight transport. This is also certain to impact on
the sustainability of the transport system in operation and thus should be monitored.
Obviously, major changes in operation are ultimately controlled by Central
Government through policy and legislation.
Finally, the framework outlined here can be used to monitor the impact of new
transport technologies introduced within the London area. It would be extremely
interesting to assess whether new technologies introduced can actually enable the
existing transport system to operate in a more sustainable manner, measured against
the LPAC criteria (see I .2). Secondly to ascertain whether the new technology
actually enables LPAC’s proposals and objectives, listed in 3.2 , to be fulfilled on a
London-wide basis.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Deelstra, T, 1992. Oppurtunities und Initiatives for Sustumuhle Trufic and Transport
in ilrhun Kegions in 1:urope.
Local Government Management Board, 1993, 1,ocul Agendu 21: A Frumework for
Imcul .Su.stuinuhility, LGMB, Luton.
Unitary development plans and Transport Policy and Progammes from the following
boroughs:
--
Green Initiatives in the London Boroughs. (Source: J. Williams
r
I- I
I I
Bodv Exists
Abstained Ye
15% 47%
23%