Encouraging a Wider Choice of Transport

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Structure Plan Chapter 5 - Community Infrastructure

5.3 - Encouraging a Wider Choice of Transport

5.3.1: Car ownership within the Plan area is increasing, bringing with it problems of traffic congestion, road safety, air pollution and public transport decline. The Plan therefore seeks to encourage people to use their cars less by making the alternatives more attractive. The provision of a high quality and efficient public transport network is central to the Plan's strategy. Partnership working is essential to improving the existing network and optimising links.
5.3.2: Buses and taxis are the most flexible and widely available form of public transport in the area. Every town and village has a bus service, and most people live within walking distance of a bus stop. However, the geographically dispersed nature of settlements across the area means that services in many towns and villages are costly and infrequent. The Councils are, however, committed to seeking to improve public transport access in all areas including the maintenance of non profitable but socially necessary services, particularly in the rural areas.
5.3.3: Walking and cycling are the most sustainable, healthy and affordable modes of transport. Despite this, over 50% of all car journeys nationally are less than 2 miles in length, which is a distance that can easily be covered on foot or cycle by most people. Over the years, towns have been transformed to accommodate the car rather than the pedestrian and the cyclist. Policy TR2 seeks to encourage more trips on foot and cycle, through the provision of safe pedestrian and cycle networks, including safe routes to schools. It also requires developers to consider provision of pedestrian and cycling facilities as an integral part of development proposals. Other initiatives will also be encouraged, including reallocating road space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists.
5.3.4: Rail services within the area are currently confined to only five towns and villages: Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane in the urban area, and Crianlarich and Tyndrum in the rural area. Less than 10% of the population are within easy walking distance of railway stations, so access to the railway network is mainly by car or bus. Accessibility to rail services is important for all parts of the area, so the integration between rail services and other public transport modes is particularly important to ensure a reliable service for residents, commuters and other passengers travelling within and outwith the area.
5.3.5: Freight transport underpins the local economy by providing for its servicing and distribution needs. The amount of freight being transported is steadily increasing, and most freight is transported by road. The Plan therefore seeks to encourage efficient freight transport in recognising the need to support business and industr y, whilst reducing the impact of increasingly heavy freight lorries upon the environment.

Policy TR2 - Transport

The Councils will promote a wider choice of transport by-

Requiring developers to consider provision for public transport, pedestrian and cycle access as part of any development proposal in order to ensure that new development integrates with and where possible enhances the wider transport network linking key services and facilities;
Requiring developers, where appropriate, to contribute to the cost of providing and operating public transport services and facilities as part of a managed approach to their transport needs;
Encouraging a shift from road borne to rail freight through management of freight movements on the existing road network, the location of freight generating activities close to existing and proposed rail facilities and by requiring developers, where appropriate, to contribute to the costs of such facilities;
Promoting integration between all transport modes including a comprehensive park and ride strategy; and
Reducing the need for trunk roads and other through routes to be used for short local journeys.
Only supporting new road schemes identified in the Development Plan and those which positively contribute to the integrated transport strategy.
Exploring the opportunities for greater use of the Forth and Alloa Harbour in the context of the Millenium Canal Link.

See also: SD 1; EDP 2; ED 3; ED 4; HP 1; HP 2; HP 3; TRP 1; INF 1

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