€¦ · web viewthe original ltp made a token reference to motorcycling and unquantified targets...

Organisation Questionnaire Question

Comments HCC Response

Question 1 (Q1) – Are there any key transport issues that have not been included in the ‘Traffic, Travel and Transport in Hertfordshire’ section?Anon. Q1 There is no specific mention of improving bus priorities. Bus issues are covered

through the Bus Strategy which is a daughter document of the LTP.

Abfly Q1 Yes – there is hardly any mention of rail improvement schemes. Totally roads focussed.

HCC have produced a Rail Strategy to accompany the LTP.

Association of British Drivers

Q1 I am very pleased to see that congestion has been recognised for the major issue that it is. However I feel that you have failed to acknowledge that what you call “traffic management schemes” to reduce speeding have in fact significantly increased congestion. The balance between congestion relief and congestion causers such as humps and pinch points has not been addressed.

HCC have a Speed Management Strategy which highlights the measures to be used for addressing speeding issues in various circumstances. The monitoring of these schemes will demonstrate if traffic has been displaced.

British Motorcyclists Federation

Q1 Yes – Motorcycling!2.1 refers to measures taken in the last 5 years in which motorcycling is conspicuous by its absence, yet there are references to walking and cycling in the context of sustainable transport networks. The original LTP made a token reference to motorcycling and unquantified targets to increase parking availability although few additional parking spaces were put in place.

HCC agree to insert additional references to motorcycling where appropriate.

1



British Motorcyclists Federation continued.

For many of the problems to which this section refers, motorcycling can help to address them or should be positively involved in solutions to them.

Motorcycling and 'The Wider Context" The section on "The Wider Context" refers to the Hertfordshire LTP's relationship with national and regional planning.The BMF was disappointed by the current L TP guidance from the Department for Transport for being less positive towards motorcycling than the 2000 LTP guidance. However, the DfT has also published The Government's Motorcycling Strategy where its primary theme is mainstreaming motorcycling as a mode of transport. It makes references to planning policy guidance documents and LTPs with the recommendations that:

we will ensure that motorcycles continue to receive appropriate attention in future reviews of planning guidance documents

without being prescriptive, we will continue to encourage local authorities to give proper consideration in their LTPs to appropriate provision for motorcyclists

2




This is a strong recommendation by Government that motorcycling should be given a full inclusion in LTPs, with the support of amended planning guidance documents and parity of esteem with walking and cycling which already enjoy national strategies. We suggest that local authorities that ignore Government recommendations do so at their peril!

The Institute of Highways Incorporated Engineers Guidelines for Motorcycling were given the Government's endorsement on their publication in April. In addition to making suggestions and recommendations on ensuring that the infrastructure is appropriate and safe for motorcycle use, they also consider aspects of transport planning that Hertfordshire would do well to take it on board both for the LTP and for wider aspects of planning the infrastructure.

It should also be noted that in 2003, the National Travel Survey showed that more journeys had been taken by motorcycle than by pedal cycle. Motorcycling should~ therefore, be accorded parity of treatment with cycling.

In "The London Effect", there is a reference to the high level of commuting into London. It fails to refer to the high proportion of motorcycles used to travel into and around the capital and their exemption from the London Congestion Charge because they help to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Motorcycling and "The Way We Work"

HCC have inserted further references to motorcycles in the LTP. HCC do have a Power-Two Wheelers Strategy which will accompanying the LTP submission as a supporting document.

HCC agree to insert wording on the use of motorcycles to commute into London.

3




The local motorcycling community has been actively involved in the consultation process by attending L TP conferences and seminars; making representations to policy committees such as the Congestion Management Topic Group, and sitting on the LTP User Group. Yet, we feel that many of our concerns and recommendations are being ignored. Motorcycles appear to be predominantly viewed as a safety problem which outweighs their positive attributes. It suggests that there elements in HCC who have set their face against motorcycling resulting in institutional bias against them.

The implementation of a motorcycling forum may help to address this issue providing it looks at all aspects of motorcycling.

HCC have positively engaged with the motorcycling community within the LTP process and have successfully agreed a Powered Two Wheelers Policy.

HCC are currently setting up a Powered Two Wheelers Forum.

British Horse Society

Q1 Yes – horse riders as road users.Horse riders were not even mentioned in the safety section.


Q1 Yes1. no mention of horse riders – need road safety measures

to be for all vulnerable road users, not just walkers and cyclists

2. there is mention of safety training for cycling for children and adults. It would be helpful if HCC would also assist road safety training, especially for children, for horse riders.

3. Don’t relegate horse riders to be ROWIP section. The horses section of the last LTP was very good. Please keep.

4



Central Town Residents’ Association

Q1 Most key issues seem to be at least touched upon. Noted.

Chiltern Society Q1 No Noted.CPRE – The Hertfordshire Society

Q1 No Noted.

General Aviation Awareness Council

Q1 Yes – please ensure that general aviation is taken into account as part of transportation strategy.

HCC have included in the LTP about surface access strategies to airports

Hertfordshire Police Q1 Yes - There is no offence to a coherent plan to meet the needs of, and to increase the use of motorcycles. Motorcycles will reduce congestion and improve air quality.

HCC do have a motorcycle strategy which supports the LTP.

Herts Society for the Blind

Q1 Yes - Increased transport options for people with disabilities in the county, particularly people with physical and sensory disabilities. Specifically flexible localised transport schemes.

HCC have a Transport Issues for Disabled People Forum and a Strategy which seeks to influence policy and schemes available.

Hitchin Visioning Q1 Yes - I see no commitment to any attempt at modal shift in order to improve accessibility and reduce road congestion. I believe this should be an important part of any local transport plans.

HCC has congestion as a key priority of the LTP. The document ahs been amended to include the Congestion Action Plan. HCC have produced an Accessibility Planning Strategy to accompany the LTP.

5



Living Streets Q1 Yes. Section 2.1 'The Last 5 Years' should include unwanted truths such as:

. Car use has increased

. Bus use has decreased

. Walking has become more difficult and uncomfortable due to increasing dominance of the car in urban streets and increasing hindrance to pedestrians (e.g. steel railings, slow signal controlled crossings, footway parking).Section 2.2 'Why is there so much traffic in Hertfordshire' should include the point. Bus services are poor and suffer from several ills including unreliability, uncomfortable vehicles, high fares, inconvenient routes, infrequent services

Metroline Q1 No Noted.St Albans Community Forest Association

Q1 Yes - Rights of Way Improvement PlanRail ServicesSustransImpact from Luton/Stansted ExpansionImpact from EERA Projection re homes

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan will be incorporated into the LTP for July with a statement of progress to date.There is a separate Rail Strategy which is a daughter document of the LTP.The East of England Plan has yet to be adopted and therefore the projections are not accounted for in this plan.

6



St Albans Community Forest Association

Q1 The document is so abbreviated that ref to all prior policies have been omitted, representing accumulated purpose. All issues, which they collective represent, not only key items (whatever that means) are essential in a plan.

This LTP has a different format to the first one following DfT guidelines. This LTP is delivery focused. The policies are still in place and in a separate supporting document.

St Albans Cycling Campaign

Q1 Yes – there is practically no acknowledgement of the key part cyclists should play in reducing congestion and pollution .

HCC agree to insert further wording on the role of cyclists.

Spatial Graphics Q1 Yes - There is no mention of the impact of new regulations on driver’s working hours, which will soon be checked against digital tachograph records. To be workable, there should be sufficient rest areas for lorries (with adequate facilities). Foreign drivers may need special help if unable to read English road signs (which are often poor, anyway!)

HCC have developed and supported the Stevenage Freight Quality Partnership which addressed issues such as routeing, information and signage. The issue of rest areas in general needs to be considered further.

Welwyn Hatfield Friends of the Earth

Q1 Pedestrianisation of more town centre areas, such as Welwyn Garden City, to ensure that people travelling to these areas are strongly encouraged to use methods of transport other than the car, and reducing the number of available car parking areas within town centres for the same reasons as above, creating mini park and ride schemes.

The development of the Welwyn Hatfield Transport Plan will develop and implement local solutions.

7



Resident Q1 Yes – This pathetic excuse of a Transport Plan is NOT sustainable!! The great cop out on page related to tackling congestion presumably refers to no targets with RTRA 96. However no reference is made to Transport Act 2000 and role of local Highways Authority – embrace Sustainable Transport Strategy.

HCC have included congestion as a priority within the LTP. HCC have a Congestion Action Plan which has been inserted into the LTP stating action to be taken to tackle congestion. The Congestion target is on journey time reliability which is a new measurement for which data needs to be collected. HCC have long-term transport policies in place which support sustainable transport.

Resident Q1 Yes – Improving cycleway and cycle routes Redbury Way for example.

HCC have a county Cycling Programme which seeks to improve on and off road cycle routes.

Resident Q1 Yes: the impact of traffic on communities. Whilst this is linked to congestion and to road safety, it deserves to be considered in its own right. For example, a major benefit from the Wadesmill-High Cross by-pass is the restoration of a community identity to Colliers End, High Cross, Wadesmill and Thundridge.

HCC will insert wording on community identity in the quality of life section..

8



Resident continued. Also, transcending all the other issues, is the need to combat climate change. This is not directly mentioned as an issue and is only referred to in a small and inadequate section at 10.6. The emphasis given to it can be judged by the fact that it does not figure at all in the summary document. It ought to be the most important objective of the plan. It will be too late to start considering this in 2010. Such an objective would significantly alter many of the plan's proposals. As it is, there is no really innovative thinking in the minimal proposals made in the section at 10.6.

HCC will insert further wording on CO2 emmissions in the Climate Change section.

County Councillor Q1 No Noted.Resident Q1 Coping with the growth of Stansted airport now. The growth of Stansted

Airport is recognised and HCC plays an active role in the development of the airports Surface Access Strategy.

Resident Q1 There is almost nothing about cycling. HCC agree to add further wording on cycling.

Resident Q1 1. is the network safer for pedestrians and cyclists – or are there fewer pedestrians and cyclists now?

2. “Sustainable transport networks” within Bishops Stortford have not been significantly improved – where is the evidence for this statement?

Resident Q1 Yes – improved bus services from all points of the compass to Tring Station.

HCC is part of a partnership project to improve access to Tring Station.

9



Resident Q1 Title is misleading - This plan is solely about Road (traffic, ravel and transport). There is nothing much in this plan for Pedestrians or Cycles, and nothing for alternative forms of traffic, travel or transport; e.g. Air, Water, Rail or even Horse.In terms of Road transport is excludes any concept of Public Transport Integration and any meaningful effort to contribute to reduction in Global Warming by maximising CO2 reductions.

HCC agree to insert further wording on pedestrians and cyclists.

Resident Q1 No. Tackling congestion is the number one priority. Limiting growth in new house building is one way to tackle increasing congestion.

Resident Q1 Yes. The railways are truly awful and unless the council can put pressure on the private sector to improve the quality of their service, you will never be able to convince people that there is an alternative.

HCC have produced a Rail Strategy to seek improvements to the rail service and facilities.

Resident Q1 Yes – improving flow of traffic into Watford from Hemel Hempstead and St Albans areas.

HCC have congestion as a key priority within the LTP and this is particularly seeking to improve journey time reliability and improve network efficiency.

Resident Q1 Yes – Elstree Lights JunctionElstree & Borehamwood Station & High Street entrance

HCC address local transport issues through the Area Plan process.

Resident Q1 Maintaining our roads – Please don’t forget the poor state of many minor roads. I have returned to the area after 4 years and have noticed marked deterioration (or at least the same pot hole have got bigger!)

HCC have within the LTP 5 maintenance indicators demonstrating the commitment to improving the condition of the highway network.

10



Resident Q1 Yes - Standards of bus driving. Bus lanes have brought about a “culture” of aggressive bus driving. Driving artics are beginning to emulate those of “white van man”

There are bus driver training courses available which HCC support.

Resident Q1 Yes - Passenger Transport (coaches) around the M25 with coach station at Watford Junction Rail Station and other locations.

HCC have produced a Bus and Rail Strategy to complement the LTP.

Resident Q1 Yes -Climate changeAir TravelSpeeding

Noted. These areas will be expanded and in the Quality of Life Section.

Resident Q1 Issues – yes – covered, but in such a woolly way! Specific – no. Please put in traffic calming on Duncombe Road, Bengeo. A safe crossing point on North Road (by St Joseph’s school). A safe crossing point at the bottom of Port Hill to get into Hartham common – many people cross to enter Hartham at the little lodge house but it is very dangerous.

The LTP is a strategic document and does not deal with local specific issues. The concerns raised here have been passed to the Area Highway Office for information.

Resident Q1 Yes – Roundabout traffic signals have been installed at Gascoyne Way, Stag House Roundabout, Hertford and are planned for Rush Green at the A10 junction with A414. Should this now include Sovereign House roundabout at the other Hertford access to Gascoyne Way, as the lights at Stag House cause tailbacks to that roundabout now.

This is a local traffic management issue and will be referred to the local Area Highway Office for information.

Resident Q1 Yes – I know there have been home zone initiatives – but why not put the pedestrian first – put in more crossings especially in Built Up Areas, and slow the traffic down – not help to speed it up. Put in other measures which I am sure you will know about to help pedestrians and reduce danger to them from speeding vehicles.

HCC agree to insert further wording on the needs of pedestrians.

11



Resident Q1 No Noted.Anon Q1 Better Sunday Services although fairly good, tring to get out

and about without using a car on Sundays, must now be a priority e.g. – 1 an hour on most services is now unacceptable, also the services do not always serve rail stations or shopping centres on Sundays. If you wish more people than 55% to travel – more publicity is needed for the Hertfordshire areas, librarys, shopping centres needs to provide and information. Bus stops with numbers would also help or priority destinations.

HCC have a Bus Strategy which will accompany the LTP which sets out improvements to bus services and facilities. HCC have a bus infrastructure programme which is seeks to upgrade bus stops.

London Borough of Hillingdon

Q1 Yesa) Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Network

Management Duty it imposes on local authorities.b) Requirement for an Strategic Environmental

Assessment of LTP.

The Traffic Management Act is covered in the congestion section.The SEA is available and has been produced in conjunction with the LTP.

Stevenage Rail Users Group

Q1 No Noted

Buntingford Town Council

Q1 No

Harpenden Town Council

Q1 Yes – minimising wherever possible the adverse effect on traffic movements as a result of ongoing road works, utilities repairs/replacement/upgrading and the subsequent reinstatement of the road surface to professional standards. There is a need for better quality control on features such as traffic calming etc, as there are often follow up problems.

HCC as the Highway Authority have the duty to implement the Traffic Management Duty 2004 which seeks to minimise the impact of works on the network and tackle congestion.

12



Tring Town Council Q1 Yes – A move to pilot energy efficient lighting through the use of solar power generation (and other renewables) reducing the County’s electric bill. Some examples can be found in the Highlands of Scotland where electricity supply is a problem.

The County Council has used solar and wind power for vehicle activated signs

Uttlesford District Council

Q1 No Noted

Resident Q1 The key transport issue not stated here is that road traffic will expand to fill whatever space is available as long as the network is not “improved” to reduce congestion, then traffic will not increase significantly (“less than 1% per year over the past three years”). However, any major schemes to relieve congestion is bound to cause more congestion elsewhere as well as increase risk of injury and death over an area beyond its limits, however much the Strategic Environmental Assessment may implore that it should be designed so it does not (p.258).

The plans seeks to maximise the best use of the existing network. The Strategic Environmental Assessment will accompany the LTP.

Resident Q1 No NotedResident Q1 Better Sunday Services although fairly good, tring to get out

and about without using a car on Sundays, must now be a priority e.g. – 1 an hour on must services is now unacceptable, also the services do not always serve rail stations or shopping centres on Sundays. If you wish more people than 55% to travel – more publicity is needed for the Hertfordshire areas, librarys, shopping centres needs to provide and information. Bus stops with numbers would also help or priori destinations.

HCC is a partner in a project to improve access to Tring Station.

Resident Q1 Yes – Elstree Lights JunctionElstree & Borehamwood Station & High Street entrance

These are local issues which will be referred to the Area Highway Offices

St Albans City & District Council

Q1 St Albans are keen to see a commitment to implement works arising from the Mid Herts Transport Plan.

Noted.

13



Hertfordshire Integrated Transport Partnership

Q1 Key Issues not included.Access to health facilities was identified within MORI survey a being “poor” and therefore needs to be highlighted as area for investigation.

Access to health facilities is further explored in the Accessibility Planning Strategy which will accompany the LTP.

Chartered Surveyor Q1 Yes! Whilst you have included in your five major schemes the Dual Carriageway upgrade of the A120 Bishops Stortford Bypass and the Hadham Bypass, what is required is a Dual Carriageway from the A10 bypassing Little Hadham and Standon. The existing A120 from the M11 to the Tesco roundabout should be upgraded to Dual Carriageway both directions. A new road/route should be constructed the Tesco roundabout to the A10/A120 junction south of Cradle End, Bury Green, south of Little Hadham but north of Much Hadham, Wellpond Green and Standon. This route avoids all Villages and some Hamlets.

Comments on the need to extend the Major Schemes of the A120 Bishops Stortford Bypass and Little Hadham Bypass to the A10 junction noted.

STOP Harlow North Q1 No – Tackling congestion is the number one priority. Limiting growth house building is one way to tackle increasing congestion.

East Herts Council Cycle Forum Group

Q1 CYCLING – Increase number of segregated cycle lanesSURVEY – Have a comprehensive survey done of transport use to what is stopping people cycling more.TRAINS – Extend train services and have an East – West route.

Hitchin Police Station

Q1 Yes – see Q8

14



Tring Cycling Campaign

Q1 The statements are often misleading : e.g. no sustainable transport for walking and cycling have been created in Dacorum. Cross boundary communications are poor, e.g. Bucks at Pitstone have deliberately the Lower Icknield Way to export traffic into Herts, and created a line from a large housing and industrial development to sent traffic to overload Tring station rather than improving Cheddington Station. The consultation with local communities on the Three Counties Project was exceptionally poor and so many rural transport problems were not in and therefore not addressed.

CTC – Right to Ride, East Herts

Q1 Level of exposure to road dangerThe need for Road Danger ReductionThe percentage of households within xx metres of designated cycle.

Residents Q1 What about the park and ride proposal for Royston, on the A1198? Was given approval it would help relieve traffic congestion at the A505/A1198 roundabout at peak times.

Resident Q1 There doesn’t need to be any improvement to the A120 west of the Traffic from the A10 south will use the Harlow North junction of the A120 (when it is built) and traffic from the A10 north (and A1 north) can be signposted east from Royston to the M11. However, see Q4 below.

Kimpton Parish Council

Q1 Yes - Little mention has been made regarding the proposed expansion of Luton & Stansted Airports (para 3.8). Because of the very significant effect these developments will have a traffic on most of the roads in Hertfordshire – not just the major through routes – these should be more emphasis in the Local Transport Plan to opposition of these developments.

15



North Herts District Council

Q1 In section 2.2, under the County Travel Survey (2002) there is no reference to travel related aspects in rural areas; this could perhaps be mentioned under 'improving bus and rail facilities'.

In section 3.2 under Regional Planning context, NHDC would like to contribute to the any necessary revision of the L TP following adoption of the RSS as these may have significant implications for North Herts in terms of possible increases in housing numbers as part of the major growth areas and may result in other priorities for appropriate infrastructure provision as part of the LTP over the longer-term.

NHDC welcomes the partnership working approach across boundaries as set out in section 3.4 particularly with the possible growth of Luton and impacts on the Chilterns AONB. It would be useful if examples could be provided on the types of schemes and measures being implemented as part of the rural transport study in the Chilterns AONB.

In section 3.7 under Multi Modal Studies, it is considered that reference should also be made to the proposals associated with the Milton Keynes Sub Regional study such as the proposed northern Luton bypass route, given the possible implications such a link may have on the A505/A602 east west link across North Herts.

In section 3.8 Airports, mention should be made about the Luton Airport Master Plan, which is currently being produced, with the involvement of HCC, surrounding districts such as North Hertfordshire, as well as other stakeholders. The Master Plan will set out the airport operator's vision and development proposals up the 2030.

16



North Herts District Council continued.

In section 3.9 'The London Effect', as per Croxley Rail Link project, mention should be made of similar initiatives if they are being sought or likely to be sought in the future, in terms of cross boundary bus provision with other Hertfordshire rail link projects into London.

Resident Q1 Yes – To encourage the use of non-road transport, notably trains, we need relatively cheap and abundant car parking near stations – currently at Stevenage, for instance, the situation is very difficult and tempts are to continue by car rather than train. You might also consider cheap and secure car parking near motorway junctions to encourage car sharing on long road journeys.

Resident Q1 Yes – parking in my experience as a cyclist and pedestrian badly parked cars are an increasing source of danger and nothing is being done to prevent this – part from perhaps in the city centre.

Standon Parish Council

Q1 Yes – Speed camerasQuiet lanes must have slow-moving traffic as well as no heavy vehicles.

Welwyn Hatfield Council

Q1 In order of importance the key issues listed in the LTP are congestion, reducing car accidents, maintaining existing roads, improving bus and rail facilities, tackling air pollution, managing traffic in urban areas and safer routes to school. Although it could be argued that reducing car use is intrinsically related to many of these issues it is recommended that “Reducing Car Use and Encouraging Sustainable Transport Modes” be added to this section. This is in line with policies M5, M6 & M10 in the District Plan and paragraph 6.29 on railways.

This section will be expanded to include more details of current problems.

17



Welwyn Hatfield Council continued.

Under the improving rail facilities section it is recommended that mention should be given to overcrowding on WAGN services on the East Coast Main Line at peak times.

Transport 2000 (North Herts)

Q1 Key Transport IssuesRecommend adding a clear statement that Transport must address modal shift away from carbon intensive travel as an overriding priority goal for climate change reasons.


Q1 Support the commitment to innovation in para 5.


Q1 Would like to see more information in the final document on where in the county air quality is worst. Likewise noise in relation to Luton airport and motorways.

HCC – Adult Care Services

Q1 ACS is committed to the principles set out in the ‘Valuing People’ document, which are rights, independence, choice and inclusion.Accessibility should take in to account that for people with learning disabilities/physical disability/frail elderly/mental health the main barrier to using public transport may not be physical access.Barriers include:-

travel information that is hard to understand concerns about personal safety and harassment lack of awareness from bus drivers bus pulls away before people have sat down complaints are not listened to Access to transport refused due to lack of space


Q1 Lack of reference to airports expansion or the EERA Plan for supplementary housing.

18



Broxbourne Borough Council

Q1 It is agreed that tackling congestion and improving accessibility should be key themes in the next LTP.The document makes no reference to the new planning framework and the preparation of local development documents by districts in Hertfordshire.

HCC agree to insert a section on land-use planning and working with the districts.


Q1 Re Para 1 main document the problem re east west rail journeys could be alleviated by reopening some closed branch lines, e.g. Hertford to Hatfield, Hatfield to St Albans, using existing Abbey Flyer line, then Watford to Rickmansworth. However this would be tremendously expensive and I think is a non-starter, so I suggest there is little point in mentioning the problem.

The lack of east-west routes is a key issue for the County Council.

Resident Q1 Page 9 Para 1 part of “Through Traffic and Long Distance Travellers” - At every consultation recently we in Tring have pointed out the importance of the rail link between Watford Junction and Gatwick via Clapham Junction, many of the services being direct to the airport without even having to change at Clapham Junction. Please can this very relevant traffic reduction facility be referred to in the LTP, and more to the point be publicised.

Abbots Langley Parish Council

Q1 No

Ashwell Parish Council

Q1 Yes – Improve parking at Ashwell and Merden Station.Provide better parking facilities at Stevenage station (approx 1/3 of parking has been lost).

Aston Parish Council

Q1 No

Brickendon Liberty Parish Council

Q1 Yes – Measures to stop speeding in country lanes, banning lorries (except for access) and including speed limits on farm vehicles.

19



Buckland & Chipping Parish Council

Q1 No

Ickleford Parish Council

Q1 No


Q1 Yes - Little mention has been made regarding the proposed expansion of Luton & Stansted Airports (para 3.8). Because of the very significant effect these developments will have a traffic on most of the roads in Hertfordshire – not just the major through routes – these should be more emphasis in the Local Transport Plan to opposition of these developments.

St Stephen Parish Council

Q1 Yes -To meet the targets figures of passengers on the buses the fares charged are to high when it sometime cheaper for 4 passengers to travel by taxi.

Wigginton Parish Council

Q1 Yes – Reducing noise from main roads, through use of low noise surfaces and through planting screening trees in appropriate places. Residents of Wigginton would benefit if these measures were applied to the A41.

20



Question 2 (Q2) – Does the County Council’s vision address the needs and aspirations for transport in Hertfordshire?Anon. Q2 Yes NotedAssociation of British Drivers

Q2 I feel that in general it does, but I do not see the logic of reducing the car’s physical dominance SO AS to allow everyone a free choice. The free choice of most people, including the socially disadvantaged, is to own and to use a motor car. This aspiration is not addressed.

The plan recognises that the car will remain the dominant mode of transport. However, the levels of traffic that exist can deter people from walking and cycling.


Q2 NO – We have no issue with the vision providing in subsequent sections of the L TP all appropriate forms of transport are cited and include motorcycles.

Comments noted.


Q2 Section 4 – broadly goodSection 5 – agreed


Q2 Most needs and aspirations appear to be mentioned but there could perhaps be a more positive lead on integrating public transport services and improving information. The bus services, in particular, suffer from frequent changes of route and, at Watford especially, a lack of information services (especially real-time updating) at the main access points – particularly at Watford Junction Station.

HCC have produced a Bus and Rail Strategy which will accompany this LTP and provide greater context for passenger transport.

CPRE – The Hertfordshire Society

Q2 Yes Noted

Living Streets Q2 Yes Noted.St Albans Community Forest Association

Q2 No, not in any sense that is meaningful. A vision can have no impact on need, only actions. Targets and efforts directed towards achieving same are required based on reality. The vision statement is pie in the sky.

The vision outlined has been through a number of consultations to clarify the wording.

21




Q2 No – Greater emphasis should be put on reducing car journeys, especially to and within urban areas. See letter attached.

An objective of the LTP is to reduce the need for the people and goods.


Q2 No – is not bold enough to combat the problems that exist and will continue to worsen in Hertfordshire.

The LTP combats the identified problems within Hertfordshire.

Resident Q2 No, because it does not directly address the issue of climate change. “Environmental well being” is too vague a term to encompass this need, since it can be interpreted in many different ways. I suggest the following:

to provide a safe, efficient and affordable transport system that allows access for all to every day facilities, whilst seeking to reduce climate change effects. Everyone will have the opportunity and information to choose the most appropriate form of transport and time of travel, but incentives will be provided to choose the most environmentally friendly form. By maximising the use of the existing capacity of the network we will work towards a transport system that balances economic prosperity with personal health and environmental well being at the community, county, national and global levels.

The wording suggested implies a fiscal tax incentive for sustainable modes, this is in the control of central government not HCC. Climate change is covered in the Quality of Life section.

Resident Q2 No – One of the main problems in the area is the lack of East-West links. Have you looked into East-West cycle lanes or Rail Branch lines?

Resident Q2 The vision is laudable as an aspiration. There could be specific mention of cycling and walking, and of reducing the need to travel.

The LTP objectives cover the aspects highlighted in the response.

Resident Q2 No – The Councils Vision for Road Transport in Hertfordshire omits any reference to THE primary impact road transport currently has on the environment namely the reduction or mitigation of CO2 emissions.

CO2 emissions are covered in the Climate Change section and HCC will strengthen this section.

22



Resident Q2 YesResident Q2 Yes ,but its hardly a “vision”. What you are suggesting is

little more than remedial action to address problems that should have been anticipated when they were originally conceived. This is mostly just catch up stuff.

Resident Q2 In a word, No.It is not possible to satisfy both the aspiration (to buy a house in a town 30 miles from the workplace because they are £8000 cheaper there) and the need (to live in a more expensive house within walking distant of the workplace, so eliminating traffic congestion and wasted travel time). Further development of the road system only encourages more of the former and is contrary to the intentions of the plan.

Economic & Community Development Unit

Q2 Yes, although there has to be a balance between providing equal choice of transport for all, and encouraging more sustainable forms of transport. Given complete freedom of choice, the default mode of transport will always be the car.

Resident Q2 NoSt Albans City & District Council

Q2 As currently phrased, the “vision” does not take account of concerns expressed by Members of the District with regard to congestion. Please see the response to question 4.


Q2 Wider ContextShould included investing in your Health section to explain how Herts is trying to improve healthcare across the County by 2010

Chartered Surveyor Q2 Yes but what confidence can we have when they have failed to add most dangerous road in Hertfordshire for the past 10 years, ie the A120 in Little Hadham between the Tesco roundabout and How Fencing. Statistics produced by your Agents Mouchel prove this.

STOP Harlow North Q2 Yes

23




Q2 No – need to have longer term ambitions. Look into major structural changes not just small short-term gains.

Welwyn Hatfield Access Group

Q2 No – The bus facilities are ultimately dependant on the operating company the services offered for rural areas are often inflexible and expensive does not entice the use of buses rather than cars.


Q2 Yes


Q2 The vision is hazy and not focussed.

CTC – Right to Ride Q2 No. the vision should not be to maximise the use of existing capacity should be to optimise the use of the existing network, improve provision sustainable travel and should accord with sustainable development principles.

Resident Q2 Largely.North Herts District Council

Q2 The LTP document is strong on partnership working, this need to be stated in the vision.


Q2 Clarification is required on what “maximising the use of existing capacity of the network” entails. Although it is agreed that the car will still be the dominant mode in the County should the County be encouraging further car use of existing roads?ResponseThe intention is not that additional car use will be encouraged, but that any pressures to accommodate growth will be met first from better use of existing roads rather than building new roads. We will consider if the vision can be modified to clarify this.


Q2 Whilst maximising the use of existing capacity is included in the vision, integrated transport is not included.

24




Q2 Re 5.1 The Vision there is a contradiction here. If you allow everyone a free choice of travel mode you cannot reduce the physical dominance of the car.

HCC seek to offer travel options so that everyone can choose the most appropriate form of transport and time of travel.

25



Question 3 (Q3) – Do you feel that the nine Local Transport Plan objectives will fully deliver this vision?Anon Q3 Yes NotedAssociation of British Drivers

Q3 No, they are too woolly, a bit like motherhood and apple pie. They are not quantified. They can be read to mean all things to all men, there is a number of potential conflicts within them e.g. balancing best use of the network with some environmental objectives. There is no objective to increase the road network, something which is sorely needed, and would go along way towards reducing congestion.

The objectives are quantified through the targets


Q3 In general, YES, providing motorcycling is given the opportunity to play a part in bringing those relevant to it to fruition. With respect to congestion, an objective of encouraging a modal shift to non-congesting modes could usefully

Comments noted.


Q3 A passable summary, but see Q2 and Q4.


Q3 Yes Noted

Living Streets Q3 No, because there is not enough emphasis on shifting transport preferences to sustainable modes. The objectives are to vague to really focus minds and actions.

The LTP Objectives have been through a number of consultation exercises to clarify them.


Q3 No, the vision is unachievable, by definition the plan objectives might be achieved by adequate targets and prioritisation of resources, but always sub-vision at best “work towards that vision”.

Comments noted.

26




Q3 They will deliver the wrong vision, by failing to deal with congestion.

HCC has congestion as a key priority to tackle within the LTP.


Q3 No - improvements in some areas of the plan will have a detrimental effect on other areas. There should be a priority of improvement to the plan.

HCC has the priority to tackle congestion which has been highlighted by residents.

Resident Q3 They will probably deliver the rather limited vision as set out in the plan. However, they need additional objectives if they are to deliver the more ambitious and environmentally responsible vision indicated above.

Comments noted.

Resident Q3 No – You can only encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport if people can actually use these modes – if there are proper cycle lanes people will use them.

HCC has countywide Cycling Programme which seeks to improve and create cycle routes and facilities.

Resident Q3 No – the objectives have no targets. The 2nd bullet point on congestion is too weak – “managing the growth” could mean anything including predict and provide for the car.

Resident Q3 Since the Vision is limited to making no impact on reducing CO2 emissions, this critical objective is also excluded. When the ice pack melts Hertfordshire will be just as affected as the rest of the world.

HCC supports providing sustainable transport choices which will impact on the level of CO2 emissions.

Resident Q3 Yes although rural services should be given grater priority.Resident Q3 No. By the time these are implemented, the next ten will be

even more pressing, and you’ve started some already … see below.

27



Resident Q3 Not really.Stansted Airport expansion proposals are having a detrimental effect right across the region that is bad enough ever: as it is. Even the location of the coach terminal next to the air terminal (instead of M11 junction 8) imposes a 15 minute detour on through-travellers. The effect of a second runway is impossible to sensibly provide for in any kind of long term plan that properly accommodates the environmental issues it needs to (Colin Buchanan 6, Partners used the word "devastating" in their report commissioned by the EEPA) , Although BAA has claimed it is intent on encouraging access by public transport instead of private cars, significant adoption is clearly impossible at the level of airport use anticipated (never mind the additional demand from other airport-related developments and the governments M11 corridor proposals): any use of the word "sustainable" in this context is an abuse of the dictionary.

Even ignoring the baleful effect of the airports, the headings are mutually exclusive rather than complementary if minimising the likelihood of collisions resulting from the transport system" involves segregation which invariably causes diversion, delay, and inconvenience - especially to vulnerable forms of transport (i.e. those other than motor vehicles). Thus in this context "Safety" and "Accessibility" are in conflict. "Congestion" is also in conflict with "Safety", since "obtaining best use of the existing network" will increase volume to the point where ever crossing the road on foot (for example) becomes impossible.


Q3 Yes, but there should more emphasis on raising the profile and standard of public transport to become a viable alternative to car reliance.

Resident Q3 Hopefully, well presented.

28




Q3 The nine objectives will certainly make a significant contribution to the vision, however with particular reference to the “congestion” objectives we feel that the objectives will not, on their own, deliver this vision.


Q3 Yes, providing that accessibility planning does deliver on its key objectives.

Chartered Surveyor Q3 HopefullySTOP Harlow North Q3 yes although rural services should be given greater priority.East Herts Council Cycle Forum Group

Q3 Yes – if you achieve the objectives.


Q3 No, in part only.


Q3 Yes


Q3 A further objective should address noise pollution. Safety cameras be coupled with noise monitors to identify noisy vehicles. Similarly to could pick out vehicles emitting particles.Incidentally they might be used to identify those who tailgate.

CTC – Right to Ride Q3 No.The objective should address problems of exposure to road danger.Insufficient emphasis on car restraint.It seems to accept transport growth as a fait accompli.Environment – should provide for and promote active transport choice promote health and well-being.Environment, second bullet point – add “and provision of facilities for sustainable modes”

29




Q3 Again there should be a statement about joint/partnership working up front before listing the nine objectives.

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Q3 The Constabulary supports all of the proposed priorities in the transport plan and recognises that they are inter-related. From a police perspective the key priorities are road safety, quality of life and tackling congestion


Q3 Broadly, the Council agrees that the nine objectives will deliver the vision. However, the following comments should be noted:Accessibility – The Council agrees that the transport system should provide access for all to vital facilities. However, “Accessibility Planning” should also be included as an objective in this section. Whereby new developments reduce the need for travel through integrated land use planning. The Council recommends that the LTP Objective under ‘Other’ should be listed under ‘Accessibility.’


Q3 Accessibility needs to include bullet points on social inclusion.

Clearer timetables and route maps, to include at bus stops and on the journey

Disability awareness events and customer care training for bus drivers

Love Architecture Q3 Congestion, improved public transport, accessibility, safety, school travel, cycling, air quality and maintenance.

St. Albans Cycle Campaign

Q3 It is astonishing to make the second environmental objective “to raise awareness” of sustainable modes of transport. The objective should be to make it easier and safer to use such modes of transport: the public are, of course, already only too well aware of them.

30



Question 4 (Q4) – The plan recognises that congestion is a significant issue in Hertfordshire. How should congestion be tackled?Anon. Q4 It is important that bus passengers have predictable

reliability, therefore more bus priority is required. This will make bus travel more attractive and help towards less congestion.

The draft LTP contains a bus punctuality indicator which will monitor journey time reliability and passenger transport more attractive. Bus priority measures are included in the Bus Strategy

Abfly Q4 1. Improve railway services – St Albans to Watford Abbey rail line – immediately.

2. Extend Abbey Line to London Euston or Clapham Jn.3. Develop Hatfield – St Albans – Watford rail line through

Napsbury/Smallford.

HCC are working with the SRA as one of six pilot Community Rail Partnerships on the Abbey Line.


Q4 It is an important recognition and one that should not be lost because of perceived problems in measuring it. There is a number of cheap quick hits available. Use local consultation to identify Congestion Black Spots and see what can be done cheaply to alleviate them. In many cases this could be as simple as removing some traffic calming measures. A more expensive way is by selective road building, especially grade separated junctions (bridges or tunnels) as are used to very great effect on the continent. Even more expensive are new roads e.g. a St Albans Northern Ring Road.

HCC have put together a Congestion Action Plan which will be included in the LTP.


Q4 The “Tackling Congestion” section deals with a number of aspects of addressing congestion including the encouragement of modal shift. Yet motorcycles which are known to be a non–congesting mode remain conspicuous Summary of the congestion

31




by their absence. It was noted in the 2001 Halcrow study Motorcycling and Congestion that in provincial towns, using Swindon as a model, increased motorcycle use made a significant contribution to reducing congestion. As the most practical alternative to a car motorcycles provide similar flexibility, range and convenience with the advantages of occupying less space, lower running- costs and not contributing to congestion. We accept that there are several means of addressing congestion but that there should be recognition of motorcycling as one of those means. The bullet points under “Tackling Congestion Through Transport Planning” are quite prescriptive regarding the modes which are recommended. In the first point, motorcycle measures should be added to the others which have been cited. The second point refers to parking management in which there should be encouragement of converting car bays to motorcycle use accommodating considerably more vehicles in the process. The final bullet point refers to initiatives related to travel choice including TravelWise and again no reference to motorcycling as a travel choice. ‘The ‘BMF ‘has been campaigning for Hertfordshire to include motorcycling as one of the TravelWise options I have recently learned that a TravelWise-based scheme being put in place to address congestion will still not include motorcycles as an alternative to the car. This is completely unacceptable and should be rectified. We recommend that motorcycle parking provision should be considered in the paragraph on parking management. As stated above, car spaces could be readily adapted and accommodate more vehicles in a given space.In terms of meeting the needs of all users, by failing to include motorcycles, the needs of their users are not being met. Consideration should be given to including them in priority access schemes such as bus lanes and advanced stop lines.

action plan to be included in the document. This includes reference to setting up a motorcycle forum.

HCC agree to insert motorcycling into the congestion section.

HCC has taken a consistent line that motorcycles will not be promoted by Travelwise because (a) they are often an alternative to the bus rather than the car, and (b) because of safety concerns. The latter may be overcome through discussions in the motorcycle forum.

HCC agree to include motorcycles in the parking management section.

32




Q4 Better public transport for key routes. E.g. East West Rail link instead of having to go via London


Q4 Integrated land use planning is vital. Redevelopment of town centre sites to give much higher residential densities than those existing needs to be curbed. We have several examples in Watford where the planners seem to find it difficult to limit the developers applications for grossly higher densities (possibly because of ODPM pressure?)

The introduction of ill-thought out and under-used bus lanes on unsuitable routes must be avoided as they can cause serious congestion on adjacent lanes and hence may add to rat-running by other vehicles.

HCC agree to insert wording on the role of land-use planning and its integrated with transport planning.

HCC have implemented bus lanes which were subject to a full consultation process.

Chiltern Society Q4 Local bus service restricted to each town with cheap fares. Inter town bus services to run on a separate network basis. In town cycleways to be positively engineered.

HCC are seeking to improve bus services through the indicators set out in the plan.HCC have a countywide cycling programme and town plans which seek to implement in town cycle improvements.


Q4 We do not accept that congestion is a significant issue. Although congestion was highlighted as the main concern of Hertfordshire residents in a MORI Poll, MORI research also shows that over the last three years transport has steadily declined as a public priority. The County Council should not be swayed into making congestion an unduly high priority in transport planning. Nobody is forced to suffer congestion, which can be avoided by the modification of behaviour and travel demands.

HCC has congestion as a key priority to tackle in the LTP. Year on year, public concerns about congestion issues have grown.

33



Heath Mount School Q4 Road widening – e.g. on the A602 HCC have proposed the A602 as a Major Scheme which would seek a series of improvements along the route to ease congestion and improve safety.

Hertfordshire Police Q4 Greater access to affordable public transport. Greater use of “Park and Ride” schemes.

Accessibility to passenger transport is being explored through Accessibility Planning and will be covered in the Accessibility Planning Strategy to be submitted with the LTP.


Q4 By providing more accessible, frequent and affordable public transport options.

The passenger transport targets seek to improve access to passenger transport.

Hitchin Visioning Q4 The Local Transport Plan recognises that congestion is a significant issue for Hertfordshire. How do you think congestion should be tackled?

HCC have a Congestion Action Plan which has been inserted into the LTP.

Living Streets Q4 By cutting down car use. The County Council knows how to do this, e.g. by improving bus services, by encouraging walking, by providing for cycling, and by discouraging car use by tightly controlling parking, but to date has been afraid to grasp the nettle and do any of these things with any vigour. Contrast with London where the current administration is making a big difference in all sorts of bold and ambitious ways. They are prepared to stand up to controversy, and they are succeeding in their objectives. Car use is down, sustainable transport is up.

HCC have inserted into the plan the Congestion Action Plan which outlines some of the measures highlighted in the response.

34



Metroline Q4 More priority given to Public Transport. Most town centres do not have enough or any bus lanes or bus priority at traffic signals.

The LTP has given priority to public transport through having 4 indicators which seek to improve services and the network.


Q4 Limits to expansion of population/restrictive housing growth maintain green belt strategy at current boundaries limit airports expansion. Serious consideration of cycling access/facility, particularly in towns. Don’t factor in accidents/related congestion unavoidable – keep heavy vehicles to arterial roads.

HCC have a countywide Cycling Programme to improve and create new cycle routes and facilities.


Q4 Honour strategic priorities and policies which benefit alternative mode transport to the motor car. This will be seen to penalised drivers but only honest recognition of the cause will suggest a cure.

HCC supports the provision of sustainable transport options.


Q4 By much greater use of alternative transport, including cycling for commuters, school children and shoppers in particular. See letter attached.

HCC has inserted the Congestion Action Plan which includes some of the measures highlighted.

Spatial Graphics Q4 Reduce the need to travel during rush hours, and by providing car parking for commuters away from town centre shopping areas (at lower prices) to encourage WALKING for a mile or two each day. Giving priority/free parking to officials or council staff is seem as hypocritical and unfair. Ensure new developments are signposted clearly.

Stort Valley Project Q4 Since the A1184 Sawbridgeworth is listed under Longer Term 2010/11, how much worse can the congestion and pollution get before something is done sooner. It is the shortest route for an emergency ambulance to get from Stansted Airport to the Harlow hospital. Why is there not more than a first aid dept at Stansted. Use electronic

Sawbridgeworth is on the longer term lists of schemes for delivery beyond the life of the LTP 2005/06-2010/11.

35



Stort Valley Project continued.

number plate readers to identify where vehicles are coming from and going to. A bypass for Sawbridgeworth – Bishops Park to Eastwick. Replace double roundabout with traffic lights.


Q4 See question one. Ban cars from centre of towns and some villages and improve public transport to these key centres. Remove parking facilities to ensure that travellers use other forms of transport. Work much more closely to schools (financial incentives?) to ensure the majority of school children in village locations (where most attend the local school)only travel to school on foot.

HCC support the enhancement of town and village centres to reduce the need to travel. HCC supports schools in developing school travel plans and implantation of actions to provide safe travel choices.

Resident Q4 1. Accept Transport Hierarchy2. Introduce demand management + 13. Introduce Carrot and Stick4. Publicity campaign relating to polluting selfishness

of petrol – heads5. Drop pathetic filthy by-pass schemes6. Adopt Sustainable kind use management – LDF =

Spatial Dimension

The LTP discusses the various measures of demand management and carrot and stick measures. HCC are re-launching the Travelwise Campaign to influence travel behaviour. HCC have proposed the Little Hadham Bypass as a major scheme as an environmental improvement.

Resident Q4 If major roads are to costly then a look at easing of existing road structure i.e. Hagden Lane is not a good junction is an example.

HCC support the approach to best use the existing infrastructure.

Resident Q4 Capacity improvements should be kept to an absolute minimum, because they lead to increased traffic. However, where there is a significant impact on a community (as for

Noted.HCC have produced a Bus

36



Resident continued.the Al0 High Cross – Wadesmill by-pass), increased capacity is justified. Elsewhere, innovative solutions need to be found, with a heavy emphasis on bus priority: If buses are significantly quicker than cars for a given journey, then they are much more likely to be used.

In particular, there should be an aim to tackle commuter traffic by providing and promoting quick and convenient public transport to stations and possibly by providing park and ride schemes to important commuter stations to avoid traffic entering towns and requiring parking in towns. Buses connecting with commuter trains should be subsidised initially until they become viable by persuading people out of their cars.

For example, when the A10 bypass opened there should have been a huge effort to get commuter traffic going to railway stations out of their cars and into the now much more reliable buses. Bus operators should have been encouraged, possibly by initial grants, to mount specific services to Ware Station – and possibly to Broxbourne and/or Hertford North. A cycle track from Buntingford to Ware should also have been created as part of the bypass planning, using the old A10 and the footpath between Buntingford and Puckeridge (pedestrians hardly ever use it). At least one local body asked for this.

Designated routes need to be worked out for HGVs and whatever powers exist to divert them from smaller roads should be used to the full. Insofar as it can, the County Council should discourage the transport of goods over large distances. No doubt, this will principally have to be by persuasion and by publicising information to the public, but councils can set an example ir:1 their own purchasing.

Strategy which will accompany the LTP.

Access to bus and rail facilities to access work is a key area to be developed through the Accessibility Planning Strategy.

The A10 bypass is a scheme of the Highways Agency. When the old road is detrunked, HCC will seek improvements for sustainable transport through the Eastern Herts Area Transport Plan.

HCC has developed and supported a Freight Quality Partnership in Stevenage assisting in routing, signage and information.

37



County Councillor Q4 Improved public transport availabilityStaggered Start Times for business and schoolsEncourage cycling and cycle ways

School and business start times are not within the control of the County Council. HCC through the development of school and business travel plans seeks to improve the transport situation and choices available, which can include the discussion of working hours.

Resident Q4 If people did not use their cars as much there would not be a problem with congestion. Therefore, best thing is to do nothing.

Noted.

Resident Q4 1. major investment in innovative responsive buses (e.g. wigley bus)

2. Major investment in cycle friendly unfrastructure.3. County-wide maximum parking policy4. Road user charging

Resident Q4 Working with other local authorities across county borders to work together.

HCC liaise and work in partnership with neighbouring authorities on strategic and local issues.

Resident Q4 The Little Hadham lights on the A120 cause all the problem on a ten mile stretch. Lights were only installed in 1975 prior to that there was no traffic problem or hold up. Simply purchase 2 of the houses at the junction for well over the market value, remove them to open up the junction and install a mini roundabout to allow the free flow of traffic. The reason there are accidents there, people get frustrated at

The traffic problem at Little Hadham has been identified as a potential major scheme within the LTP. If this scheme is progressed all options and the associated impacts

38



Resident continued. waiting 20 minutes plus at each approach road, so they then jump the lights, I often see 6 cars go through on the red light – that is really dangerous. Instead of spending £100M plus on a by-pass demolishing dozens of houses taking up hundreds of acres of grade one countryside and farmland, ruining the finest English landscape, taking many more years to build, a small scale simple solution at the existing junction would solve the whole problem. With constant flow at Little Hadham and no longer a bottle neck there would also be no need to dual carriageway the Bishops Stortford bypass either.

would be investigated. The scheme is seen as an environmental improvement to remove the high volumes of traffic from a rural village which are inappropriate.

Resident Q4 How about some radical policies to optimise public transport, increase cycle and foot traffic and significantly reduce congestion. How about a congestion charge for all parents (without a medical reason) driving less than a mile on the school run? How about a congestion charge for all commuters (without a medical reason) for driving less than a mile to work. How about stopping the growth of housing in Hertfordshire.

Resident Q4 See Question 1. House building should be limited until the infrastructure deficit is corrected.

Resident Q4 Ultimately, it has to be to get people to use alternatives to their cars. This almost impossible task can only be done with vastly improved and viable alternatives. Trains, I have mentioned, and whilst they have shareholders to satisfy, there will never be significant enough improvement in any timescale that will help you attain your vision by 2010/11. Likewise, lets look at cycling. For example; I live in Little Hadham and have often cycled to Bishops Stortford. Cycling on that road is a truly terrifying experience. An alternative,

39



Resident continued.the pavement is now dangerously rutted, so that when you spent a considerable sum last year on resurfacing that stretch of the A 120, you omitted to do the pavement, which would have been the cheapest time to do it. A fundamental error. This calls into question your actual real commitment to achieve your stated vision. Things like this make it all look like lip service. Additionally, by June, the foliage has become too overgrown to make use of the pavement for cycling without risk of personal injury, and if you cant make use of this stretch of road, then Standon, Puckeridge, the Pelhams etc are all out of the equation too.

Resident Q4 The first priority is to oppose the governments proposals for the expansion of Stansted Airport and for building extremely in Hertfordshire. Unless those plans are abandoned or at least drastically reduced, the congestion will only get worse.

HCC have opposed the East of England Plan and the associated growth.

Resident Q4 By making new A120 route over farmland to A10 from the bypass north of Bishops Stortford. This should go north of Little Hadham. The noise & pollution from A120 and airport is making life hell for people who live near it.

HCC would consider route options if the Little Hadham Bypass was progress in the LTP.

Resident Q4 By encouraging fewer journeys by road. This can only be done by more local services provision e.g. retaining the four existing acute general hospital, and local health clinics services being increased, and by more buses increasing frequency, as appropriates to serve rail community.

HCC have produced an Accessibility Planning Strategy which seeks to improve access to healthcare, education, work and food shopping through passenger transport. This strategy will accompany the LTP.

Resident Q4 Better public transport Noted

40



Resident Q4 If bus travel to town centres (e.g. St Albans) was guaranteed to be faster than car travel at peak times more people may change to bus (Priority lanes for buses, ban cars from town centre etc.)

HCC have a Bus Strategy which will accompany the LTP to improve the bus services and facilities available.

Resident Q4 Intelligent use of filtering. Encourage users onto public transport. Free parking at stations etc. All the big supermarkets have free parking. It attracts customers. Transport has a completely reverse logic of fleece the commuter. It then costs a fortune putting in place parking restrictions on local roads, signs, lines and enforcement.

HCC supports the use of passenger transport and this is highlighted in the targets and the bus and rail strategies. Parking costs are the responsibility of District Councils and landowners.

Resident Q4 Staggering of office hours. Retail now more flexible – Tesco extra, Watford open Mon 8 am – Sat midnight etc. More flexible working hours including weekends.

HCC supports the introduction of flexible work patterns and this is fostered through Company Travel Plans.

Resident Q4 Congestion should be tackled by reducing the volume of traffic on our roads (in future by road pricing) it should never be tackled by widening roads or building more roads.

HCC do not support congestion charging, but do support the encouragement of providing sustainable travel choices

Resident Q4 A tunnel under central Hertford. It is awful that West Street which has been part of the town’s heritage for hundreds of years and also Queen’s Road, the Church, St John’s hall should all be cut off from the main town. The traffic is ruling the town.

The A414 through Hertford is not in the list of major schemes being proposed for this LTP. It is on the list of proposed schemes in the long term after

41



Resident continued. 2010/11. Inserted wording in the LTP on community severance by transport routes. HCC have implemented a new crossing on Gascoyne Way, Hertford that provides a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists as an option instead of the subway and this provides a new link for the community.

Resident Q4 There must be a compromise solution between road widening and bypassing and environmental considerations. I think the best (but costwise expensive) solutions are underpasses and flyover bridges, or complete dualised bypasses with careful landscaping. The historical example is railways, where environment and transport have successfully blended.

Comments noted on the need to balance environmental considerations and transport solutions.

Resident Q4 1. everyone who works at home or in or very close to their nearest town – should get a tax incentive e.g. an increased personal allowance (tax)

2. Double tax 4 x 4’s/people carriers/other large cars that carry people at least double – this local tax can fund the measure mentioned above.

3. Allow small cars to use bus lanes when appropriate.

4. Allow more car parking near towns so people don’t drive around searching for car park spaces that are free (these are usually non existent.

Fiscal measure are set by government. HCC have proposed within the LTP, Telematics as a Major Scheme which would use information technology to make best use of the network and facilities such as car parks, by providing information to drivers on parking availability.

42



Resident Q4 Less house building. More local companies so people do not have to travel excessively to work places and in this way they may even use able to use public transport.

HCC have opposed the East of England Plan and the associated growth.


Q4 Yes, congestion is a chronic problem facing most local authorities.Inducing modal shift from the use of private car needs to be accorded greater emphasis.

HCC have congestion as a key priority to be tackled in the LTP.HCC agree to insert further wording on modal shift and the importance of walking, cycling and passenger transport.


Q4 The motorcar is the problem, too many people have cars and only see at peak times i.e. 0700-0900, 1600-1900 where bus/rail provide most services. There should be congestion charging at these times, some time reducing bus fares or most journeys are local journeys, and tighten up an use of car parking near schools by meters .

Parking outside of schools is addressed through the Safer Routes to School Programme.


Q4 Improved transport including a Cambridge to London Bus via A10.

East Herts Council Q4 By dualling the bus through roads. By removing bottlenecks. By congestion changing in town centres.


Q4 We agree that congestion is the number one transport priority in the county, which needs somehow a more even distribution of traffic throughout the day, and encouragement need to be given to spread the peak congestion hours, by promoting more working from home, working from more localised centres, and car sharing for private, business and school trips.

HCC has congestion as a key priority to tackle in the LTP. The Congestion Action Plan which has been inserted outlines a number of measures to be taken.

43



Tring Town Council Q4 Increase use of public transport. Encourage more walking for short trips (e.g. to the shops). More provision for cyclistsReduce need for some journeys with local employment opportunities and an school allocations to local schools


Q4 It has to be by a combination of measures. Walking and cycling must be encouraged over shorter distances, but the right infrastructure is essential to make pleasant experiences. Buses need to run to the right places at the right times, but the real challenge is how to provide viable alternatives to the car from anything rural areas.

HCC agree that a whole package approach is required. Rural areas are tackled through the Rural Strategy which seeks to offer modal choice.

Resident Q4 Public Transport can never have sufficient capacity to substitute for the demand created for using private motor vehicles or, a road system developed with the explicit intention of encouraging that (at the expense of all other road users and means of transport). Either the issue has to be tackled head on using road pricing (or systems of traffic lights and lanes or bypasses dedicated to priority vehicles or left. To its own devices in the hope that. Increasing fuel costs will eventually suppress demand. Any attempt to relieve congestion by increasing capacity not only makes it worse somewhere else, but increases the incidence and severity of accidents.


Q4 We feel that tackling the school run issue would have a major impact on congestion – as demonstrated in school holidays. Rat-running is a major issue for many of our industrial areas. One example is the Gunnels Wood Road in Stevenage, which becomes congested whenever there are problems on the A1(m). As industry in Hertfordshire moves towards more knowledge based industries, there is much more potential for more flexible forms of working, including home-working and staggered working hours, reducing the large numbers of traffic on the road at peak hours. These new working practices could be encouraged through Green Travel Plans.

44



Resident Q4 Limit car useBetter bus lanes/better and reliable services on than and bus service in Hertfordshire – maybe revised bus services – evenings and weekends.

Resident Q4 Better bus/train services with bus lanes to bypass congestion it really works in London and other major cities in the UK. Limit car using Monday-Friday, cars with one driver should be made to take passengers during Monday-Fridays.

Resident Q4 Better public transportSt Albans City & District Council

Q4 The section on “tackling congestion” in the LTP draft statement does not take account of concerns expressed by Members regarding the serious congestion problems in the District. We suggest that the statement should be consistent with decisions taken by members when considering the District Plan Second Review, the Mid Herts Area Transport Plan and the East of England Plan, as summarised below:

i) In September 2003, the fully Council approved the District Plan Second Review Pre-Deposit Consultation Document, which indicated that congestion is already serious and is likely to get worse unless decisive action is taken. The document called for another full St Albans Transportation Study, which should re-examine the case for some limited road-building as part of an overall package of transportation measures to met the city’s long-term needs (n.b. the September 2003 document was not published because of the Government’s proposed changes to the planning system).

ii) On 17 February 2005, the Council’s Planning Policy Advisory Panel considered the draft Mid Hertfordshire Area Transport Plan. Members concluded that the draft Plan underestimates the transport problems in the southern part of the District and that there is a need for a full

45



St Albans City & District council continued.

transportation study, which should examine a wide range of potential transport schemes, including major schemes that would significantly increase the capacity of the transport network.

iii) On 23 February 2005, full Council agreed this Council’s response to the draft East of England Plan. Members resolved that one of the Council’s main concerns regarding the draft Plan was that “the planned improvements to the transport infrastructure are grossly inadequate, particularly in the London Arc”.


Q4 Need to highlight the importance of the Integrated Transport Partnership programme in tackling congestion.

Chartered Surveyor Q4 New and improved roads. If the Government want Stansted Airport expanded and more housing they need to provide the funding.

STOP Harlow North Q4 See Question 1. House building should be limited until the infrastructure deficit is corrected.


Q4 Get people out of their cars – therefore build more cycleways.


Q4 The congestion arises because of factors outside the control of anything, congestion will get worse as more homes are built resulting greater commuter car use and greater activity with heavy goods vehicle. Congestion is a regional/national problem and not confined solely


Q4 Improve highway capacity.


Q4 There is significantly less congestion during school holidays. School Travel Plans can help. Schools should be advised that Government monies such plans may terminate in 2008 so they should plan now so as not this money.

CTC – Right to Ride Q4 By providing much better facilities for travel by foot and bicycle.

46



North Herts residents

Q4 What about the park and ride proposal for Royston, on the A1198? Was given approval it would help relieve traffic congestion at the A505/A1198 roundabout at peak times.

Resident Q4 Problems at the Little Hadham lights can be easily resolved by purchase three or four of the properties at the cross roads and straightening to the junction. It could then work quite well as a mini roundabout.


Q4 By encouraging a smoother traffic flow. Enforcing the speed limits more rigorously would lead to less “chasing”, catching up and queuing at modal points, i.e. a smoother traffic flow. Limits should not be enforced by speed cameras which only result in “slow-fast” driving once drivers know where they are. A few traffic police in un-marked cars with the power to make on the spot fines would work wonders.


Q4 The broad initiatives mentioned in this section are considered acceptable.

In section 6.2 mention is made about OPE powers and the encouragement of short-term off street parking in commercial centres at the expense of commuter parking, backed by comprehensive on street controlled parking zones. No mention is made about initiatives to deal with the displacement of commuter parking.

Resident Q4 Charge for it – congestion charges or road pricing. I don’t much like it but I don’t see any other way.

Resident Q4 By making cycling, walking and public transport as much of a priority as cars. Public transport coverage is patchy and expensive, pedestrians stand in the rain waiting for queues of cars to pass and cyclists face the danger of poor path and road provision for them. Please don’t make it easier for cars.


Q4 This is a national issue.

47




Q4 Car – Reduce dependency on the car and encouraging sustainable modes of transport. Rail – The Council supports the improvement of rail services serving stations in Welwyn Hatfield. A1(M) – A satisfactory solution to congestion between junctions 6 and 8 needs to be foundEast / West Links – The Council supports the improvement of transport links East / West across the County particularly from the district to St Albans and Hertford where congestion is apparent at peak times. East / West journeys are only likely to increase with the expansion of Stansted and Luton airports.


Q4 This is a fudge. There are no magic “acceptable to all ” solutions. This paragraph implies that road-based traffic volumes and distances are not in themselves an issue. Reliable journey times can be achieved by managing demand through local or area wide demand restraint measures (eg workplace and on street parking charges, congestion charges, motorway ramp metering, parking standards at new developments). It is astonishing that there are no policy measures in this section given the extensive stakeholder consultation and members working group on this topic during 2004.


Q4 Congestion is more significant in peak hours – This should be addressed across the departments, and should include changing hours of services provided i.e. Schools, Day Services etc.Should include encouragement to use existing transport routes to services, i.e. public transport, walking, friends/carers/staff on way to work.

48



HCC – Adult Care Services continued. Hertfordshire Integrated Transport Partnership has identified

that by staggering start times, the same transport can be used for these services. This would then improve congestion on the roads at peak time.

St Thomas More RC Primary School, Berkamsted

Q4 Encouraging children to walk and cycle. The St Thomas More school Travel Forum suggest that congestion caused by the ‘school run’ could be tackled effectively if more funding was earmarked for the Safer Routes to School Programme.

The results of our survey also suggest that congestion caused by ‘the school run’ could be tackled by the provision of seatbelts on school buses.

The Mode Share of Journeys to School is a mandatory indicator of the DfT which the County Council supports.

Love Architecture Q4 We firmly believe that the only long term, sustainable way of tackling congestion is by reducing the need to travel.

An objective of the LTP is to reduce the need to travel. Also, the Congestion Action Plan will be inserted into the LTP


Q4 The plan states that congestion is a major problem and that car ownership is high. One of the reasons for this is the failure to provide proper cycling facilities in many of Hertfordshire’s urban areas and particularly St. Albans. Planners should visit some of the Continental cities to see how cycling can transform congestion and the environment. The plan’s main objective should be to make cycling (or buses) the preferred method of commuting, getting to school and travelling to the centre of Hertfordshire’s towns.


Q4 Of the three LTP objectives concerning congestion non relate to cycling. WHY?

49




Q4 In St. Albans, for example, your plan should ensure that priority is given to such schemes as the following:-1. Secure, covered modern accommodation for at least 1,000 cycles with changing rooms and showers should be provided for now at the main station, where development is being planned. Over 400 use the station daily at present, even though the appalling cycle parking is insufficient, unsafe and much of it uncovered. Better facilities and safer access for cyclists could remove hundreds of cars from the roads at the rush hour. In Munster in Germany proper accommodation (paid) is provided for 3,000 cyclists at the station, and cycling is preferred method of commuting.


Q4 2. The wide London Road pavement could provide a magnificent and cheap commuter route into the city.


Q4 3. The Alban Way off road route for commuters between Welwyn, Hatfield and St Albans is hidden from commuters and tourists with no signs to it in St. Albans


Q4 How can you expect to reduce congestion until these sort of schemes become a real priority with action taken on them now?

Anon Q4 The Bridgewater School Travel Forum, Greenway School Travel Forum and St Thomas More School Travel Forum suggest that congestion caused by the ‘school run’ could be tackled effectively if more funding was earmarked for the Safer Routes to School Programme.

50



Hertsmere Borough Council

Q4 The Borough Council is pleased to note that road congestion is now identified and discussed as a key issue in this document.

The Council considers that steps should be taken not just to manage but also to limit/or reduce the growth of vehicular traffic.

Congestion is a shared priority to be addressed in the LTP.

Demand management is a key tool to tackle congestion and is addressed in the LTP. The County Council seeks to provide mode choice for journeys.

Resident Q4 When traffic levels build to difficult levels, then people will naturally resist from travelling the problem route, they will find alternative work/supply or change their mode of transport – without any convoluted anti-congestion schemes.

Tackling congestion is seeking to provide residents with journey time reliability in order that journeys can be planned accordingly.

Resident Q4 Congestion is a sign of healthy trade and commerce; it is self-regulating without recourse to complicated, expensive ‘schemes’.

Congestion has an impact on the environment in terms of air quality and the quality of life of local residents.

Resident Q4 Congestion at Pen Hen Junction. Due to new phasing of lights, in addition to the now single lane which traffic turning left, when slowing for the sharp turn delays traffic intended for straight on.

This comment will be referred to the project manager of the scheme.

Resident Q4 A traffic build out has been placed to prevent delivery vehicles causing congestion. Delivery vehicles do not obstruct traffic flow 24 hours a day – a pavement build out does.

This comment will be referred to the project manager of the scheme.

51




Q4 I am very pleased to see more emphasis being given to congestion even though there is no measure as yet. I do suggest a measure on one of the forms. In addition I suggest that all proposed new schemes are audited to see what impact they have on congestion. One that is near to my heart is the scheme currently ongoing in St Albans City Centre the HH engineers gave figures showing how much extra congestion the changes to the Peahen junction will cause, and it looks to me as if they were right now the work has been done. The message is the best was to reduce congestion if not to cause it in the first place.

Resident Q4 The fact that 64% of those interviewed mentioned congestion as a problem is probably largely due to the fact that most people drive and of these interviewed would be those during the morning and afternoon peak periods, both of which are greatly worsened by the “school run”.

HCC carry out a MORI survey every year and the issue of congestion has become a higher priority over recent years.

Resident Q4 It is therefore deeply disappointing that the stats on pp.43/4 show nearly half and nearly one third respectively of the younger/older age groups still being driven to school despite your efforts.

HCC is committed to the Safer Routes to School and School Travel Plan programmes to provide safe walking and cycling routes to school.

Resident Q4 Admittedly it is a vicious circle but the traffic congestion round some local schools now is of grid-lock proportion. Producing a generation of children who will expect to use the car for virtually all journeys.

HCC have undertaken a pilot study with University College London which looked at the positive impact of walking to school on children’s health.

52



Resident Q4 I suggest – a) if possible, loosening the requirements for the Walking Bus and similar projects – I gather some have had to be scrapped due to the poor lighting on a footpath over a nearby estate whereas surely most of the year those children within walking distance go to and from school in daylight;

HCC Road Safety undertake an assessment of each walking bus route and provide advice.

Resident Q4 c) at schools there should be a no-stopping “total-exclusion” zone within 200m on both sides of the road not only to make it more pleasant for those walking there but to act as a deterrent to those making a very short journey by car. Time for fairly draconian action and targets much higher than those you quote on p.43;

Measures at schools are developed on an individual basis due to very local conditions and road layout.

Resident Q4 c) severely discourage, by e.g. banning on-site parking and controlled street parking in the area, the 17+ year olds who are increasingly driving themselves to school.

School sites are not controlled by HCC but by the Head Teacher. Many Head Teachers are restricting parking on the school sites.

53



Resident Q4 Otherwise congestion itself does have some advantages: it reduces traffic speeds and acts as a deterrent to those of us tempted to use the car for a short journey to e.g. a local town centre. What needs to be resisted is the temptation to build/widen roads out of the congestion problem – it will never succeed and would be totally inconsistent with Government aims to reduce energy use/CO2 global-warming problems.

HCC to tackle congestion have a Congestion Action Plan:- Developing strategies to address particular hotspots.- Reviewing developer contributions to ensure that maximum benefits are negotiated for road improvements.- Reviewing parking policy guidance- Developing a telematics strategy- Developing a speed management strategy (agreed in April 2005)- Review and revitalise travel campaigns.- Further develop school travel plan programme.- Incorporate bus priority measures into area transport plans which includes:

Resident Q4 Overall I am very disappointed at the lack of focus on increasing cycling as a means to reduce congestion, improve air quality, accessibility and safer roads, key Government Targets.

HCC has a Cycling Indicator and cycling will contribute to a number of the other indicators.

54



Abbots Langley Parish Council

Q4 The Parish Council suggested that, although it may not be feasible option, free public transport should be offered to, if not all, possibly some selected groups of users thereby reducing traffic congestion.

Central Government have recently announced that pensioners will receive free bus travel. The County Council also offer saver cards to young people for discounted bus travel.


Q4 Development of effective strategies for an integrated system of public transport for local example please see notes from Joan Ridley (published in Ashwell news). A little thought may provide much more useability.


Q4 Encourage people in villages like Aston to use the train rather than drive on journeys to London. To do this you need large car parks at stations which you know will have space. Currently parking at Stevenage is being reduced! Stupid. Cannot HCC do a deal with Norwich Union to use car park on the Leisure park by day?


Q4 With traffic lights at more busy roundabouts changed at peak periods (i.e. junction of A414/Gascoyne Way) regular monitoring and traffic police directing.


Q4 Improved public transport


Q4 Not allowing all proposed housing development in already congested areas i.e. south of England where M25 already a car park! And towns like Stevenage/Milton Keynes very congested now.

55




Q4 By encouraging a smoother traffic flow. Enforcing the speed limits more rigorously would lead to less “chasing”, catching up and queuing at modal points, i.e. a smoother traffic flow. Limits should not be enforced by speed cameras which only result in “slow-fast” driving once drivers know where they are. A few traffic police in un-marked cars with the power to make on the spot fines would work wonders.


Q4 Encourage people back to the buses and trains with better frequency and fare, structure operate the buses for the passengers convince and not the bus operator.


Q4 No comment.

56



Question 5 (Q5) – Do you feel that the measures set out in the ‘Shared Priority’ sections are the right ones to tackle the issues of congestion, accessibility, safety, air quality and quality of life?Anon. Q5 Partnerships are important as long as the commitment is

there.Agreed


Q5 I do not understand this question, I cannot find any “Shared Priority” Sections.

The Shared Priorities are the congestion, accessibility, safety, air quality, quality of life.



Q5 NO - all modes which can make a positive contribution to these aspects should be considered fully and equitably. Motorcycling is only considered with regard to safety when they can playa positive role in bringing about reduced congesting, better accessibility, improved air quality and quality of life.

Motorcycling and "Delivering Accessibility"

Wheels 2 Work, the inclusion of motorcycles in travel plans, the provision of motorcycling facilities by employers and the availability of dedicated and secure motorcycle parking are all means of enhancing accessibility but have received no references. At the very least Wheels 2 Work which is being developed by HCC should be mentioned in the "Tackling Accessibility Issues" section where other projects are considered.

Like congestion, motorcycling is but one means of addressing accessibility and should be fully included with the other solutions.

Motorcycling and "Safer Roads"

The initiative Wheels 2 Work is referenced in the Accessibility Planning Strategy which will accompany the LTP.

57




The BMF has an overriding concern that in this section there is too much reliance on reducing and enforcing speed using the Hertfordshire 'Safety' Camera Partnership and not enough emphasis on improving standards of road use. The underlying theme should be that all road users should take responsibility for their actions and that enforcement should be on standards of road use with speed but one aspect of several. More police should be deployed on the county's roads to promote better road safety through discretionary and sensitive enforcement.

The BMF accepts that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users who suffer from a high level of casualties which should be addressed. However since they are of the same order as other vulnerable modes, this should not be used as an excuse not to consider them positively or to discourage motorcycling as a means of reducing casualties. While single vehicle accidents predominate for leisure riders with The Government's Motorcycling Strategy setting out various means to address the problem, urban collisions involving motorcycles used as transport are predominantly the fault of other road users who should be targeted.

In the section on 'Motorcyclists', unique in the document as being the only reference to this group, we are pleased to note that in accordance with The Government 's Motorcycling Strategy, the action: we will systematically measure motorcyclist casualty rate as a secondary indicator to the number of casualties has been taken into account. Motorcycling has been unfairly blamed for becoming less safe when any increases in casualties have resulted from increased use.

We are also pleased to note that education and training

The safety strategy employs a wide range of programmes including road user behaviour.

Enforcement is an issues for the Hertfordshire Constabularly.

The County Council supports measures which encourage car drivers to be aware of motorcyclists. The County Council does not discourage the use of motorcycles.

58




schemes are to be undertaken although BikeSafe Hertfordshire could be better promoted with riders' workshops being undertaken.

The BMF is particularly pleased to see that motorcycling groups will be invited to participate in the development of a county motorcycling strategy through a motorcycling forum. We also have reservations about the proposed motorcycling strategy and forum being included in the safety section which may prevent the proper consideration of the more positive aspects of motorcycling as referred to elsewhere in this response to the consultation. While safety aspects should be addressed, they should not overshadow the beneficial contributions that motorcycling can make.

Motorcycling and "Better Air Quality"

All new motorcycles have been subject to EC (Euro 2) pollutant emissions limits since June 2003 under EC Whole Vehicle Type-Approval. Euro 3 limits equivalent to current car emissions limits will be implemented in 2006/7 for all new motorcycles. Since motorcycles can make better progress in congested conditions than cars, their efficiency is better than vehicles moving intermittently with improved differential pollutant emissions. Hence motorcycles should be enabled to play a part in improving air quality.

Motorcycling and "Quality of Life Issues"

By using less space than other motor vehicles, motorcycles have less impact on the use of land for traffic and parking. They provide flexible low cost personal transport which is ideal for shift workers and also an enhanced level of personal security, particularly for women. With smaller and more- fuel efficient engines (including larger motorcycles

Comments noted.

Comments noted.

Comments noted.

59



compared with larger cars) than other motor vehicles, they also contribute less to climate change with lower CO2 emissions than other traffic with their more efficient use improving this further over other motorised vehicles. Hence, there should be consideration of the contribution that motorcycles can make to a better quality of life.


Q5 Add to non mandatory indicators:%age of right of way that have no complaints open on themAndAverage length of time to resolve obstruction complaints.


Q5 Air Quality Management Areas – we have several areas in Watford that are at least suspect – e.g. St Albans Road and past of the so-called Watford Central Green Zone where the traffic management measures introduced in recent years have failed to prevent rat-running through some roads in the zone. We hope that the present Borough Council proposals, being developed now, will, with other partners lead to a substantial improvement. (See also Q7).

Within the LTP, HCC will work with District Councils where an Air Quality Management Area has been declared on a local authority managed road. Where an AQMA is declared and action plan to improve the air quality is drawn up, HCC will contribute measures to alleviate transport impacts on air quality.


Q5 Yes, but with the caveat that we do not accept that congestion is a significant issue and feel more weight should be given to accessibility.

HCC has accessibility as a key priority to deliver improvements in the LTP. HCC have provided an Accessibility Planning Strategy which will accompany the LTP.

60



Living Streets Q5 The County Council shows both with the words in the Plan and with recent examples on the ground that it can tackle the issues, but in practice it continues to give priority to helping the motorist rather than encouraging other modes. For example, look at the pathetically low rate of implementing cycle route schemes.

The shared priorities set out in the plan will seek to provide journey choices to allow people to make an informed choice about how they undertake a particular journey.


Q5 No congestion – nothing offered but consultation and monitoring.No accessibility – prioritise alternative modes of transport.Ok safety but prioritise alternative modes of transport.No air quality – nothing offered by consultation.No quality of life – must deal with all above and airports expansion and EERA.

DfT are supplying HCC with the data for accessibility and congestion. Within the congestion section, the Congestion Plan has been inserted.Accompanying the LTP will be an Accessibility Planning Strategy.


Q5 No – Insufficient emphasis is put on buses, cycling and pedestrians. They should come first.

HCC have produced a Bus Strategy which will accompany the LTP. HCC agree to insert further wording on pedestrian and cycling issues.


Q5 No Noted.

Resident Q5 It is not clear to me what the "Shared Priority" sections are, However, the following are comments on each of the issues listed.

Congestion: this is dealt with in Q.4 above.

61



Resident continued.

Accessibility: it is unfortunate that the Dial-a-Ride service has been run down. It was popular with many older people, whose main complaint was that it was not as readily available as they would have wished.

Safety: the emphasis on enforcement of speed limits is welcome. It is worth noting that, in addition to the prime objective of preventing injury, speed restrictions in built-up areas also have an important benefit for communities in noise reduction. Also, I have noted that even minor accidents with no injuries (which happen fairly often outside my house at the junction of the A120 and Standon High Street) take up a great deal of police time. (Work on safer routes to school by the County has been excellent.)

Air quality: no particular comment.

Quality of life: there ought to be a much more serious attempt to deal with the climate change effects of transport. Whilst the measures listed are laudable, the likelihood of their reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010 is minimal. For example, in order to encourage the use of trains for longer journeys out of the county, long-stay car-parks should be established for stations such as Stevenage and Watford (there is a passing reference to something like this in relation to Watford station), as well as for one or more stations serving the Thameslink line, to encourage the use of Eurostar for journeys to France and Belgium, making such a journey as convenient as going to fly from Stansted. Such carparks would need to be well publicised.

As mentioned above, a determined effort to encourage those going to commuter stations to use buses also needs encouragement. If possible, priority for buses should be considered rather than tackling general congestion. Maybe

The Dial-a-Ride service is a joint service funded by the County and District Councils and is dependent on match funding.Comments noted.

The Station facilities are not within the remit of HCC. The LTP and Rail Strategy though strongly supports the use of rail for long distance journeys.

62



carparks should be established at suitable places from which buses could be taken by commuters to stations. (The charges for park-and-ride should deliberately be less than the charge for the relevant station car-park.)

The impact of congestion and heavy traffic on communities should be a major criterion, as also mentioned above.

Resident Q5 Where are the shared priority sections. It would be helpful if you put a page number.

The Shared Priorities are congestion, accessibility, safety, air quality and quality of life.

Resident Q5 Not sure which section this is!Resident Q5 How about something a lot more radical to really address

the issues? Perhaps - all public transport to provide full accessibility within two years or their licence to operate is revoked; or all county and district council owned vehicles to reduce CO and particle emissions by 50% inside two years; or all county and district council mileage allowances to be biased against CO2 and particle emissions; or no more school buses hiding as local bus services to get around safety rules!

Resident Q5 YesResident Q5 Yes, but whilst we have Stansted Airport, we can never

achieve better air quality, because they do not accept their culpability and central government condones their behaviour and that's just one example. Another on accessibility is the harebrained idea of demolishing the multi-storey car park in Stortford ensuring future town centre shopping inaccessible. Park and ride is very limiting and deservedly you will never hear the end of it. That was the nice thing about the town, it

63



Resident continued. was easy to get in, shop and get out. Now, you have just made Harlow a serious contender with adjacent park/shop facilities, so all those extra miles through country lanes working against your stated aims. Another howler.

Resident Q5 If this means Sections 5.2 then the issues are simply not being dealt with unless all towns are provided with a park and ride scheme, supported by a large hike in charges for centre of town parking. From the experience elsewhere in Britain it is clear this is the only way of getting many private car users gently accustomed to once more using other means of transport such as buses, cycling, and walking. Reducing the need for movement of people and goods" surely has to be encouraged by creating congestion, and not relieving it except for essential vehicles.


Q5 Couldn’t really work out which were the “Shared Priority” sections – was it 6-10? If so, yes – fairly comprehensive, and shows potential for some good examples of partnership working.

Resident Q5 Yes – definitelySt Albans City & District Council

Q5 There are two AQMAs in St Albans – Bricket Wood and Holywell Hill/London Road junction, not just the one was stated in the draft document.


Q5 See Q3

Chartered Surveyor Q5 YesSTOP Harlow North Q5 YesEast Herts Council Cycle Forum Group

Q5 Where are the shared priority sections?


Q5 Yes to tackle the issues of Hertfordshire.

64




Q5 Yes


Q5 There is much talk about road maintenance and safety but little about footway maintenance and safety when not associated with roads. For locally often do not allow two people to pass without stepping into uneven ground, or being caught by overhanging vegetation. There is seem to be an assessment of their condition. A projection should be stop the current deterioration of footways and restore them to the condition they ought to have. The safety of young persons needs to addressed at night and for leisure travel as well as for travel to school example: It should be “cool2 to have the best and most powerful light cycles.

CTC – Right to Ride Q5 Measures are needed that tackle road danger.Far more emphasis is need on providing a comprehensive walking cycling network.

Resident Q5 Partly.North Herts District Council

Q5 In general these measures are all very commendable but will rely strongly on joint working amongst partners to initiate the measures and to demonstrate progress.

There are some specific measures that need consideration such as:

Under section 7.1, access to leisure facilities is equally important.

Under 'safety' issues consideration needs to be given to the issue of off-road users using public rights of way in rural area and the potential conflicts between different users i.e. between walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Off- road use is an increasing concern in the Chilterns area of North Herts.

Under 8.4, 'Links to other areas of work', reference should

65



also be given to Community Strategies, which in turn identify a whole host of local transport issues at the district level.

There is no mention about Green Travel Plans in the L TP - surely these are good initiatives in reducing congestion and thereby improving the quality of life?


Welwyn Hatfield Council continued.

Q5 Broadly speaking, the Council believes that these “shared priorities” are the right ones to tackle the issues listed. However, the following comments should be noted.

Tackling Congestion – The Area Plan approach is fully supported particularly with reference to working closely with District Councils.

Delivering Accessibility – The approach of delivering accessibility to all is supported. However, policies supporting a reduction in the need to travel and minimise the effect on the environment should also be emphasised.


Q5 Add bullet point. First priority should be reducing CO2 emissions from transport.Tackling congestion – is a vague priority. Everything hinges on how this is doneImproving accessibility for everyone – is unrealistic. Reducing transport poverty amongst the most excluded in society and improving access for all by lower carbon modes would be more accurate.

Stevenage Borough Council

Q5 It is disappointing that the LTP2 draft says very little about integrating transport and land-use planning through the new LDF process, and very little about working in partnership with the district councils. LTP2 needs to emphasise the issues from the East of England Plan much more strongly.

66




Q5 Integrating transport delivery in peak hours to make it more efficient.Develop an ACS, Health and CSF Strategic Service travel plan that services will work toMore emphasis on social inclusion – as well as physical accessibility – awareness by providers to the needs of socially excluded groups.Needs to include education and travel training needs for all ACS clients.

Beds & Herts Ambulance Paramedics Service

Q5 Could the County Council consider the following accident hotspots when considering road safety in the future:

- B656 Hitchin to Codicot- B655 Hitchin to Barton Le Clay- A505 Baldock to Royston- A507 Baldock to Buntingford- Norton Road, Letchworth- Wilbury Hills Road, Letchworth- Stotfold Road, Letchworth- A602 Watton-at Stone bypass

HCC will feed this information into the Congestion Action Plan.


Q5 The LTP contains certain objectives which focus solely on highway management at the expense of integration with wider issues. It should be emphasised that promoting more sustainable forms of transport can help reduce congestion and improve safety. The contribution of LTP schemes to issues such as town centre enhancement and community

67



safety should be considered. In Hertsmere, the station interchange at Potters Bar and the quality of Elstree and Borehamwood Railway station. The Council would urge that these issues be referred to specifically in LTP2.


Q5 The Borough Council welcomes the consideration of accessibility issues.

An Accessibility Planning Strategy will accompany the LTP in July.


Q5 Quality of Life issues could be better integrated with the plan objectives.

Resident Q5 Speed humps will cause more discomfort for the public, particularly dangerous for the elderly. Their introduction to streets has caused concern amongst the emergency services.

HCC supports the introduction of speed humps where appropriate and consult with the emergency services on all traffic calming schemes.


Q5 Re para 2.2 Air Pollution the scheme I mentioned earlier is increasing congestion in St Albans in the name of road safety also increases pollution at that junction, already identified as a pollution black spot, and now made worse.

The LTP has Air Quality, in particular, Air Quality Management Areas as a priority and this will be incorporated into future schemes and the impact of their design.

68




Q5 Re para 3.9 bus service perhaps Herts should bite the bullet and do a London or South Yorkshire and swamp the area with lots of buses with low fares and see how many passengers they pick up.

Within London, the bus operations are controlled by the Mayor. HCC have less control over bus services due to 55% of services being operated commercial.


Q5 Re 4.1 P13 LTP Vision I do not think enough attention is given to your biggest customer the private motorist. The private motorist is always being clobbered and encouraged to do things he or she does not want to, like cycle, walk or go by bus. If you were really customer orientated you would seek to satisfy the private motorists needs.

HCC has congestion as a key priority to tackle which will give journey time reliability to the private motorist.

Resident Q5 Re 8.2 the school run I do believe it is a misconception that it is safer to take children to school in a car than to allow them to walk, etc.National statistics show that 20 years ago 349 child pedestrians a year were killed in built up areas. In 2003 the figure was just 61. Over the same period child cyclist deaths also dropped from 98 to 18 and others, including those killed in cars dropped from 116 to 79. I believe a lot of this reduction has been due to the school run. If you try to stop the school run you will be killing more children.

HCC is committed to the Safer Routes to School and School Travel Plan programmes. Safe routes can be provided for children to walk, cycle or travel by bus to school which will also have benefits for the health of the child.

Resident Q5 It appears to me that there is an increasing number of recently qualified drivers driving aggressively and fast, on reflexes and brakes, in town centres and residential roads: it would need to be national but one feels some form of education or even a post-qualification reminder at the one or two year stage might be helpful!

HCC supports the need for driver training and education and the Road Safety Unit does run courses on this subject.

69



Resident Q5 Page 33 BETTER AIR QUALITY It should be pointed out that Tring (and probably other parts of DBC) had no measurements at all for 2 years. Including an area which had readings on a par with Plough Roundabout in HH.

Noted. The District/Borough Councils monitor air pollution and report this data to the County Council.

Resident Q5 Bucks has won accolades for its measures and results to increase bus use, it can’t be so different from Herts.

Resident Q5 Can I suggest HCC talk to BCC to see what they are doing differently. For example reference buses; they have started a scheme with at least one major shopping centre for discounts on purchases on presentation of a valid bus ticket for that day.

Resident Q5 Also, currently on local radio, BCC is running a car-share project with prizes for uptake.

Resident Q5 5.9 Pilots were carried out elsewhere, (Yorkshire I think amongst others) into the use of a modified American yellow bus system for school travel, have HCC seen any results from the schemes?, are there any ways this could be brought in? A community the size of Tring could be quite a good test bed.

Resident Q5 6.5 Age and accessibility of buses. All buses serving a school bus service should have seat belts fitted. There was concern brought to Tring Safety Group that the service from Long Marston via Tring to St Thomas More in Berkhamsted did not have them. The reason being after the Berkhamsted school it reverted to a normal service.

Resident Q5 11.2 The strategy for interchanges is “Can I please draw attention to desperate need to improve the services at Tring Station e.g. co-ordination between buses and trains, covered waiting and toilets, Tring Gateway Project.

70



Resident Q5 The A10, in Royston. If the existing crossing was removed and replaced by two separate crossings including a system of lights in sequence this would benefit both motorists and pedestrians.

Resident Q5 That HCC should in the interests of road safety and accident reduction press Government to institute a requirement that everyone 12 months after qualification for a driving licence have a brief check.

HCC support the need for driver education and offer this service through the Road Safety section.

71



Question 6 (Q6) – The Local Transport Plan sets out a series of targets for the five year period up to 2011. Given that these targets have to be achieved within limited resources, do you feel that the targets are set at the right level? Which of the targets should be given greater priority? And do you feel that any other targets should be included?Anon Q6 Road safety must be the target given the highest priority. Noted.Abfly Q6 Most bus related targets are unachievable and waste of

money. Utilise these funds on rail improvements for better traffic reduction.

HCC have to set and achieve bus targets as a DfT requirement. HCC have produced a Bus Strategy which will help to achieve the targets.

Abfly Q6 Increase rail usage on Abbey Line by 200%.Reduce St Albans – Watford car traffic by 50%

HCC is seeking to develop an indicator for the Abbey Line as the pilot project is developed.


Q6 You recognise that congestion is very important yet to you, as yet, have no target for measuring it. I believe that setting a measurable congestion target should have highest priority. The citizens of Hertfordshire know when they are in congested traffic. They are the ones you have to please. It would be good if you could report next year to the citizens that you have reduced congestion at known congestion blackspots. Perhaps a target would be to establish all places in Herts where traffic jams extend such that it takes more than, say, three minutes in a jam, to pass a certain bottleneck, for at least one hour a day. The target would be then to reduce the number of such blackspots, and to list the ones reduced in feedback.

The Congestion Indicator set by the DfT is defined as vehicle delay for which neither HCC or DfT have measured. Therefore, DfT are providing all local authorities with data once they have finished collecting it.

72



Association of British Drivers continued.

I feel you should concentrate on the targets where you can do something about it, like reducing congestion and improving road condition rather than ones you cannot really influence like changes in traffic mileage and cycling trips.


Q6 The bulk of the targets has been imposed by Government and may not be relevant to the objectives of the Local Transport Plan. For example, increasing cycling trips is not an outcome with it far from clear what it would achieve. The Area-Wide Traffic Mileage should include congesting and non-congesting modes with an imperative to increase the latter at the expense of the former. Similarly the use of non-congesting modes should be included the congestion indicators. For the non-mandatory indicators, speed limit compliance is not considered to be relevant to road safety since this only deals with one aspect of road user behaviour. Perhaps improving cyclists’ compliance with traffic lights would be a more relevant target.

Killed and seriously injured casualty reduction targets should include rates as a secondary indicator to take into account increases in use for particular modes.

The BMF suggests that the highest priorities should be given to road maintenance, reducing congestion and improving accessibility – providing motorcycling plays a part in them.

The speed limit compliance target addresses issues of quality of life as well as road safety.

Priorities Noted.


Q6 There are certainly worthy objectives here, but I do not have sufficient background knowledge of the implications for use of resources to be able to judge what might be possible or achievable. The passenger transport information, user satisfaction, target of 50% is perhaps disappointingly low.

The target for passenger transport information, user satisfaction is an 11% improvement from the baseline and is a realistic target.

73



Chiltern Society Q6 Cycling – target should be nearer 50% The target is set at what is realistically achieveable. If it is met early, a stretch target will be set.


Q6 Many draft targets in Chapter 11 are considerably less challenging than they should be. Of particular concern are:11.2(b) Non-Principal Classified Road Condition: This target should be significantly lower11.2(d) Footway Condition: The draft target needs to be far more stringent if we are to achieve one of the Plans objectives, i.e. persuading more people to walk11.2(h) Public Transport Patronage: The provision of a free bus timetable to every household in the County, better, vandal-proof signage at bus stops and more matrix-point indicators would assist in halting the decline of bus patronage.

11.2(n) Mode Share of Journeys to School: We find the draft targets disappointingly low and consider that they should be more challenging e.g. 75% for age 5-10 and 90% for age 11-16.11.3I School Travel Plans: In views of the target for School Travel Plans (which we fully support) we are disappointed that it appears to result in such a small percentage of the population travelling to school by sustainable travel modes.

11.3(d) Speed Limit Compliance: A more challenging target should be set.

Comments on non-principal roads and footway condition noted.

HCC through the draft target setting process believe that a steady state of bus patronage is achievable but an increase is aspirational rather than deliverable within the funding available.

HCC have revised this target in light of the consultation responses and have expanded the indicator to cover all school and produce a higher number of plans.HCC believe this is an achievable target with the measures available to deliver this target.

74



Hertfordshire Police Q6 Reducing congestion increasing safety. Noted.Hertfordshire Police Q6 Yes – Increased use of motorcycles Noted.Herts Society for the Blind

Q6 Improving public transport. Noted.


Q6 Yes – Providing specialised transport options to people with disabilities.

HCC support Dial-a Ride services in partnership with the District Councils which provide transport for the elderly and disabled.

Hitchin Visioning Q6 No – I am disappointed by the modest ambitions both for public transport use and road condition, especially against the ambitious target for cycling and major road schemes being planned. I know the budget is limited but the priority for the two areas I have noted above could be increased.

The priorities notes will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Hitchin Visioning Q6 I prefer to answer this in a negative way. In my view, targets for satisfaction with bus services and passenger transport information, together with slight injuries and cycling targets do not have a high priority for me.

Noted

Hitchin Visioning Q6 Yes – I would like a target for at least one road pricing or toll experiment conducted in the county.I would like to see an individual travel plans developed for one trial area to see the impact on modal shift.

Living Streets Q6 Target (e) ‘Footway Condition’ should be set so as to improve the average condition of footways. To hold an existing poor level of 52% of footways where maintenance should be considered suggests a complete lack of commitment to encouraging ~ walking.Target (h) ‘Public Transport Patronage’ should be set so as to increase the amount of bus use. To cite the decline in bus use over the last 5 years as a reason for not setting a

Within the estimated LTP funding allocation for maintenance a steady state on footway condition is achievable.HCC have suggested a target for passenger transport patronage which

75



Living Streets continued.

positive growth target is basically using an admission of failure over the last 5 years as a reason for avoiding striving for success over the next 5 years! Target (i) ‘Bus Service, User Satisfaction’: A target of 60% is singularly unambitious. If only 60% of users are satisfied with services that means that services are very poor!

Target (j) ‘Bus Punctuality’: A target of 70% is no more than the Traffic Commissioner’s minimum and is poor.

Target (m) ‘Cycling Trips’: 2707 trips per day is curiously precise and is not increase on the baseline. The County Council appears to have done well with its ‘Safe Routes To School’ initiative in recent years and would be a pity to not maintain focus on this with a boldly ambitious target. Target (0) ‘Changes in peak period traffic flows’. The target for Watford allows an increase in traffic of 3. 2% which is scarcely better than the ‘do nothing’ projected increase of 5%. The target for St Albans / Hatfield represents a traffic increase of 5.2% which is more than the ‘do nothing’ projected increase of 3%. Does this really mean that the target is to increase the amount of traffic in St Albans?!

would reverse the current trend of decline in passengers.The 60% target is on an improved trajectory for bus service, user satisfaction and is from a baseline of 39% satisfied.HCC have set the draft target at the minimum level until an accurate baseline has been established as this is a new indicator.The cycling target would see an increase in cycling of 11%.

Metroline Q6 Yes NotedMetroline Q6 Improving Public Transport NotedMetroline Q6 No Noted

76




Q6 No – stop excusing, set relevant targets and be judged. HCC have set out indicators and projections in the consultation draft which are relevant and can be delivered with the time and budget of the LTP.


Q6 Earlier draft cycling targeted for doubling – now only 11% in 5 years!! Ludicrously low – expand !!

11% is the target to be reached by the year 2010/11, there is also a future projection for 2014/15 to achieve 20%. The government has withdrawn its original target to double target.


Q6 If only 90% of schools are expected to promote a travel plan (bearing in mind that school delivery is responsible for a great deal of local congestion). To plan to improve accessibility for all is nonsense. Remote residents by choice will hardly appreciate irregular bus services “within 10 mins walking” 95% ?? 90% ? of say communities determined by 30 mph or “Gated” zones covered by route.

The Accessibility Planning Strategy focuses on disadvantaged groups accessing key facilities.


Q6 No, targets related to mandatory indicators reflects no more than “hold as is” – for next 5 years! Not satisfactory prioritise as per Mori – address congestion seriously.

HCC recognises congestion as a key priority for residents. Congestion is a difficult area to monitor and for which a new baseline of data needs to be established regarding journey time reliability. Within the congestion

77



St Albans Community Forest Association continued.

section, the Congestion Action Plan has been inserted demonstrating the measures that HCC are developing.


Q6 The targets for cycling should be substantially upgraded. See letter attached.

The cycling target is a new target which has been through a rigorous process.


Q6 Earlier draft cycling targeted for doubling – now only 11% in 5 years!! Ludicrously low – expand !!

11% is the target to be reached by the year 2010/11, there is also a future projection for 2014/15 to achieve 20%. The government has withdrawn its original target to double target.


Q6 If only 90% of schools are expected to promote a travel plan (bearing in mind that school delivery is responsible for a great deal of local congestion). To plan to improve accessibility for all is nonsense. Remote residents by choice will hardly appreciate irregular bus services “within 10 mins walking” 95% ?? 90% ? of say communities determined by 30 mph or “Gated” zones covered by route.

The Accessibility Planning Strategy focuses on disadvantaged groups accessing key facilities.


Q6 Yes Noted


Q6 Like in London reduce bus fares where since Livingstone came to power bus ridership is up to 1960’s level.

The majority of the bus services are commercial. HCC has no powers to regulate fares on these services.

78




Q6 Yes – More vigorous control over bus operators life. Transit Group using all vehicles with problems and bus identification where routes could be controlled from a bus control centre, running buses where necessary. All buses to have radios for communicating to base and police control points for assistance.

HCC have put forward Telematics which would provide information to users and drivers as a major scheme proposal.

Spatial Graphics Q6 Yes but not all solutions require expensive engineering! HCC recognises the importance of education and information in achieving transport outcomes.

Spatial Graphics Q6 Public transport convenience and good connectivity with trains, taxis etc. Much better security with 2 crew (driver plus conductor)

HCC have been working with operators to install CCTV on some bus routes to improve security. HCC supports the needs to integrate transport modes and implements this through the Area Plans.

Spatial Graphics Q6 Yes – as a matter of course, make regular safety audits to see if direction signs and road markings are clear and un-ambiguous (poor signage and confusing signals cause many incidents (a county responsibility) and overgrown hedges create visibility hazards, forcing drivers (and cyclists) out from the kerb, into traffic ahead – improve parking controls, especially at junctions.

HCC have a routine highway maintenance programme in place. HCC supports the English Heritage ‘Save Our Streets’ campaign which seeks to improve the streetscape and remove unnecessary signage and street clutter.

Stort Valley Project Q6 No Noted

79



Stort Valley Project Q6 Despite EHDC revoking the air quality requirement along the Leventhorpe School to Bell St stretch, the air stinks for our children going to and from school now.

Air Quality is monitored by the District Councils. The County Council through the LTP is seeking to improve air quality through transportation planning.

Stort Valley Project Q6 Yes – Prohibit advertising boards which narrows footpaths. Prohibit vehicles from parking across footpath “run-downs” (double yellow lines). Stop sloping down footpaths from house fronts to roads for “easier” vehicles access, install a concrete wedge with drainage ways at kerb edge – a lot cheaper and safer for the elderly.

HCC supports the English Heritage ‘Save Our Streets’ campaign which seeks to improve the streetscape and remove street clutter and obstructions.


Q6 The targets are not bold enough. Very little progress will be achieved with current targets and committed finances.Public transport including rail. No road schemes should be given any priority. Priority to pedestrians at all times.Air quality. It is an issue. Mention as a target but not expanded.

Comments noted that targets are not bold enough.

Resident Q6 No – what targets? They are pathetic Comment noted that the targets are not stretching and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q6 1. Reduction in Vehicular Movements2. Increase Public Transport Use3. Walking & cycling targets?!!

Priorities will be reported to the Transport Panel.

80



Resident Q6 Cars – Lorries – Bus Use – Walk – BikesWhat about inclusion agenda? The Old, the Young, the disabled?

HCC have produced an Accessibility Planning Strategy which seeks to improve access to healthcare, education, work and food shopping for disadvantaged groups which will accompany the LTP.

Resident Q6 YesResident Q6 Yes – if extra housing to be built then full consideration

should be given to road access etc.HCC through the planning process comments on the highway implications of new developments.

Resident Q6 As a general point, I believe it is unfortunate that the word “projection” is used, rather than “target”. “Projection” accepts too readily what is going to happen without much intervention, whereas targets are what the Council should be striving for.

Given that section 2.2 recognises the public concern about the state of the roads and states that the plan will seek to improve it, it is extraordinary that the targets are for no improvement whatsoever.

Whilst I recognise that bus use has been declining nationally, it is not just desirable, but absolutely imperative that car use must be reduced and an increase in bus journeys is part of this. It is therefore essential that innovative ways are found of making bus services more convenient, and if possible quicker, than cars. Some ideas are outlined above, but this whole issue needs urgent thought and action. As a further example, it might be

The consultation LTP used the projections in order to engage the public in a debate about the appropriate level at which to set the final targets which will be in the July submission.

The bus patronage projection is set against a trend of decline which HCC want to reverse.

81



Resident continued. possible at some junctions to have single bus lanes for commuter buses which reverse direction between morning and evening. (It could be that this would be possible at Little Hadham if a by-pass is not built – see below.) I further suggest that, where such priority lanes are provided, a higher punctuality target is set: commuters will not use the service if it less reliable than their cars.

Although the national forecast is for an increase in traffic mileage, it is clearly imperative that we nationally seek to restrict or even reverse this growth. I think that the target suggested is insufficiently ambitious.

I hope that the congestion target does not encourage changes which will increase the amount of traffic unless there are very sound other reasons for them. In a sense, congestion is necessary to encourage alternative modes of transport if ways can be found to ensure that they avoid the congestion.

As I look at traffic through Standon on the A120, I am amazed that the current level of compliance with the 30 mph speed limit is as high as 56%. However, I am pleased that this speed limit is singled out as it is arguably the most important, since the difference between 30 mph and 40 mph can literally be the difference between life and death for a pedestrian. A 4 percentage points improvement is again not sufficiently ambitious. (Speed cameras seem very rarely to be in 30 mph zones: a change in this policy would be welcome.)

I do not know how easy it would be to monitor, but a target for the reduction of CO2 emissions should ideally be included.

The DfT is seeking congestion targets which address journey time reliability. There are other targets which seek to reduce the growth in traffic.

Noted that a higher target is requested.

HCC are working with the East of England local authorities on CO2 emissions and this work may be developed to include a target.

82



County Councillor Q6 Yes Noted.County Councillor Q6 Improved access for all

Safer roadsNoted

County Councillor Q6 No NotedResident Q6 If there is no baseline on cycling trips how can I say whether

the target is correct?The baseline which the the DfT requests was not available at the time of going to print.

Resident Q6 The targets for buses (no further decline) is fatalistic. The county should at least set targets to increase patronage for buses over which is had control.

Resident Q6 Where are the targets to reduce and mitigate CO2 and particle emissions?How about an aggressive target to reduce and mitigate CO2 and particle emissions to exceed the UK government standards by 2007?

Resident Q6 Yes – Improving safety and travel to and from schools.No – we have too many target in local government already.

Resident Q6 No, these targets are purely remedial works to attempt to put right problems that should never have arisen or sorted out much earlier or should have been anticipated at their planning stages, so have been festering and getting worse ever since. Your time scales are too slow and by the time these are done the next ten will be blowing up in our faces.Getting people out of their cars, giving people a viable alternative, whether public transport, cycling, sharing schemes, but realistically that need central government assistance. As for cycling, that can’t be done unless you provide some room for it. Again, get the railways to do their bit better. They are crucial

83



Resident continued. to persuading people to change the way they commute, and Hertfordshire is a commuter county. But rail travellers would like a seat for their money, a reliable service, and some degree of hygiene. Nothing that ‘One’ rail has been able to provide since I started using it, and that’s a while now.

Resident Q6 The route of the Little Hadham bypass needs to be reconsidered. A short bypass returning to the A120 would only transfer the bottleneck from Little Hadham to Standon. Any new road should run from the bishops Stortford bypass north of Little Hadham and north of Puckeridge to join the A10 somewhere between Puckeridge and Buntingford.

HCC would consider route options if the Little Hadham Bypass was progressed in the LTP.

Resident Q6 No Noted.Resident Q6 A120 new route from bypass to A10 and north of Little

Hadham. We agreed northern bypass to Little Hadham some years ago when incidents happen traffic is diverted both entries to single track lanes. Result is standstill. Those of use who live in Cradle End and Green Street, Bury Green areas of Little Hadham, quite often can not get home when incidents occur on A120. I have lived her for 30 years and the traffic has reached unbearable volumes and noise 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day, mainly due to airport expansion?

The funding for a Major Scheme such as a Little Hadham Bypass would be through the LTP which central government would then make a decision on whether to fund such a scheme.

Resident Q6 Yes – Urgently provide the link road between the A414 dual carriageway and Hemel Hempstead hospital. Whatever the plans, there will be increased usage of the hospital, as well as staff housing development, a crèche etc on the Paradise site and the existing hospital site.

Resident Q6 Loss of life Noted

84



Resident Q6 Yes – give more say to local people. You are too far away from local issues.

HCC undertake local consultation at the plan development stages and the scheme design stages.

Resident Q6 Major schemes : put electronic information at the bottom of the list. Fix the infrastructure first.

Priorities noted and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q6 Yes Noted.Resident Q6 Children to school by means other than car. HCC supports the Safer

Routes to School programme and the development of School Travel Plans which seek to provide transport choices for travelling to school.

Resident Q6 Yes – Co-ordination of all parties i.e. Road/Rail/Bus with shopping centres, schools, industrial zones, retail parks (i.e. the big generations of transport demand)

HCC develops and implements Area Transport Plans which seek to integrate the modes of transport within a particular area.

Resident Q6 Yes Noted.Resident Q6 Improving air quality. Improving safety – perhaps by

enforcing speed limits.Noted. The plan sets out a speed limit compliance target.

Resident Q6 Yes –Reducing the volume of traffic – if your priorities are set by central government why are you consulting me?

The DfT set indicators for Highway Authorities which the County Council were seeking local priorities.

85



Resident Q6 If you make the roads safer then you could claw back some budget from the NHS who are treating all the accidents.

HCC is committed to improving road safety and has reduced the number of casualties in recent years. This is no mechanism by which HCC can benefit financially from NHS savings.

Resident Q6 SAFETY – particularly of children but not in ways which restrict life but hose which enhance community i.e. other transport solutions : walking, cycling, public transport to be promoted.

- this would also reduce wear and tear on the roads which would also increase your budget.

- If children learn to cycle they will grow up to be more responsible car users – in 10 years time you may have a cohort of 20 year olds who use their cars less and are safer so these sort of things are forward thinking not just pie in the sky fashionable issues.

HCC provide cycle training courses for children and adults. The Safer Routes to School Programme and the development of School Travel Plans works with schools, pupils, parents and residents to encourage the modes of walking, cycling and passenger transport for travelling to school.

Resident Q6 No Noted.Resident Q6 Yes – I have been driving since 1958, and congestion is

nothing new, I remember when the A414 access through Hertford town centre’s Shire Hall bottleneck and the A120 through Bishops Stortford up the Dunmow Road. Subsequent schemes have been overgrown by weight of traffic, and this is a lesson for the future – new roads are not the only solution. Why does public transport fail to provide a good alternative? Not enough routes? Too little spending on it? (Remember the big local bus garages?) Re-open old

HCC has congestion as a key priority to tackle in the LTP and this will be delivered through a number of measures which will include improvements to passenger transport services and facilities.

86



Resident continued. railway branch lines? The growth of motor traffic at the same time as the lessening of public transport routes is not a successful mixture.

Resident Q6 No Noted.Resident Q6 Maintaining Roads

Improving safetyNoted.

Resident Q6 Not sureResident Q6 Yes NotedResident Q6 Yes – A10 Puckeridge to Buntingford. Comments noted.London Borough of Hillingdon

Q6 Yes Noted.


Q6 Road Casualty Reduction Targets Noted.


Q6 Yes – Number of School Travel Plans (STP) completed each year, and the resulting measures to be addressed implemented.

School Travel Plans have been identified as a local indicator and target due to the importance that HCC attaches to them.


Q6 Yes


Q6 Safety and accessibility


Q6 Yes

East Herts Council Q6 Both – it is probably unrealistic to set a target of 11% increase in cycle journeys because the roads are too dangerous for most people to risk cycling.

East Herts Council Q6 Improving Road maintenance – the current standard is very low. The state of many of our roads is not acceptable.

87




Q6 Yes – agree and specifically under “Improving public transport” – important to maintain the current levels of use, when public transport is declining across the whole country.

The passenger transport patronage target is seeking to halt the decline which the county has experienced in recent years.


Q6 The three bullet points under “Improving safety on our roads”.


Q6 No – believe targets enumerated, comprehensive enough. Noted.


Q6 No – believe measures/schemes enumerated, comprehensive enough.

Noted.

Tring Town Council Q6 YesTring Town Council Q6 No – all the targets seem to be of equally high importance.Tring Town Council Q6 Yes – The following two targets are changes to items in the

document. Improve Public Transport – use of public transport is declining across the whole country, so our projection is to maintain the current levels of use.The County should seek an increase in public transport use even by a small amount and not be satisfied with maintaining current use.Maintaining our roads – to stop the current deterioration and keep roads in their present condition.The present condition of our roads is not acceptable. The County should be seeking to reduce year on year the amount of highways that need repairing – thereby saving money in the longer term.

Comments noted on the need to stretch the passenger transport target, and to improve the condition of the highway network which will be reported to the Transport Panel.


Q6 Yes Noted.


Q6 Improving accessibility for everyone.

88




Q6 No But I think that measuring QoL improvement will not be easy.

HCC agree that the areas of quality of life is very important but that it is difficult to set indicators and targets that can quantify these aspects.

Resident Q6 There is (or was) a rule of thumb that speed limits should never be less than the highest speed 67% of vehicles would achieve if there were no speed limit on that road. This recognises the profound influence the desgn of a road has upon its users, and that punitive measures are appropriate for boy racers only. It follows it must be possible for highways engineers to design a road for whatever speed is required, rather than the usual case that they design a road to encourage traffic; subconsciously to travel as fast as possible (and faster than most of if intended). It also follows that the current tendency to penalise road users for unintentionally doing what the designer intended is immoral and ineffective: I know remarkably few people who have not been caught by a speed camera ye there seems an unending supply of boy racers and the benefit in terms of overall death reduction seems negligible. Surprising too that I have never heard of a highways engineer being prosecuted for professional negligence in encouraging by design the undesirable high speed that will have contributed to a serious accident.

Under Speed Management (p.31) it says “Part of the strategy will be to evaluate if the County Council have appropriate speeds for appropriate roads which might be the same thing as above, though I suspect it is not. Before this underhand system ends up criminalising the entire population, perhaps its logic and (lack of) effectiveness should be re-examined and the roads modified as appropriate. Hint: the link between subconscious vehicle

89



Resident continued. speed and design of road is the distance visible ahead (which can be reduced either by use of bends, or by narrowing – i.e. the opposite of what. Highways departments are still doing in the wrong places). !f we are talking about safety as opposed to punitive revenue collection, then the issue of vehicle drivers’ subconscious reaction to road design is the thing that must be addressed.

Tinder Rural Areas (p. 31) it says “Where appropriate we will consider links to a variety of rights of way in order to encourage vulnerable road users to use routes that are more suitable for their transport needs. From years of experience as a road user in a variety of different modes this is nonsense: either such rights of way are quite unsuitable, or vulnerable road users would already be using them. In any case there has got to be a change of emphasis away from special facilities (or specific routes) for cyclists, walkers, horse riders, towards a recognition that the entire highway infrastructure is their facility also. It must be accepted whenever advocating special facilities (whatever this means in practice) that detours, time delays, and access should be considered alongside safety.

Under 10.5 Noise (p36) it suggest transport noise is not a significant cause of compliant. However there are two issues in particular that insidiously degrade quality of environment and need controlling: one is the air noise from road vehicles travelling at 40 mph or more, the other is aircraft noise. Though the document claims the latter is currently a relatively minor source of complaint I can tell you from experience in central London (since two years ago when the Heathrow protesters lost their case in the European Court to the right to a decent nights sleep) things in Hertfordshire will only get VERY MUCH WORSE everywhere, and this should be strenuously resisted.

90



Resident continued.Section 11. INDICATORS AND LOCALLY RELEVANT TARGETS11.2 Mandatory Indicators (m) Cycling Trips. This seems remarkably vague and unfocused, given (with sufficient initiative) the ability of cycling to solve almost ALL the other problems this Transport Plan is supposed to be addressing.

I also note that the Strategy Environment Assessment nowhere includes cycle use among the various categories of analysis, although in Appendix 7 : Policy : Horses (p199) it claims significant health benefits from sitting on a horse’s back, together with potential for “access to employment, shopping, education, leisure and health facilities for all, especially those without a car and those with impaired mobility”. Isn’t this a bit ironic given the 4x4 SUV ownership that seems almost a requirement of this particular activity? This is bizarre.

I am also very concerned at one of the items on p200 – “when highway verges are to be used to take cyclists off the main carriageway, section 71 Highways Act 1980 will be used in preference to section 65 since this doe not exclude horses;” because there is a significant safety issue here. While horse riders and cyclists have much common cause when it comes to traffic issues, I have found horses to be nervous of and aggressive towards cyclists, sometimes to the point their riders cannot properly control them. Whereas this situation can normally be handled satisfactorily wherever the full width of the road is available, the situation described above is invariably far too close and at risk of increasing “injury and death t other road users” as reported to the British Horse Society. These national figures are not high but must be significant give the infrequency of contact, and mean that any proposals for dual use as suggest must be only at last resort and only after full consultation with all user groups.

91




Q6 We feel that the target “h” – Public Transport Patronage should also cover rail travel. While we realise that HCC doesn’t have much influence on rail services, the ultimate aim is to reduce reliance on the car, and this will have to be done through a combination of rail and bus services. Although there has been a general decline in bus usage patterns, the unchanged projection of 31 million passenger journeys per year doesn’t seem very aspirational.

We feel that undeveloped target “P” should be the most important overall, although this would be driven by other individual ones, i.e. “mode of journeys to school”, “Accessibility”, “Public Transport Patronage”, etc.

Number of public transport journeys (bus & rail)?Resident Q6 a) yes

b) all targets should be given same priorityc) no

Resident Q6 YesResident Q6 Road, rail, safety/congestion to help cut down on journey

times without risk to all travellers.Resident Q6 Yes – Public Transport – I travel to London daily and

sometimes the services from London can be very bad, and I am frequently late home, which makes it difficult to make plans for the evening transport to Hertfordshire can be poor, but will improve if proper targets are made (costs of the traveller should always be considered both by bus and trains)Cut congestion on major routes – (limit parking to town centres – unblocking more roads)Long term plans/major schemesSafety at all timesBetter accessibility to Hertfordshire – (a very import county for the South East)

92



Resident Q6 Loss of lifeSt Albans City & District Council

Q6 There is a sense that the targets reflects the resources available, rather than more appropriate targets without sufficient funding. St Albans feels that the resources should be increased rather than the targets being lowered.

There is concern that the bus patronage and bus punctuality targets are too low.

It is disappointing to see that the results of the MORI surveys are not reflected in the targets.


Q6 Yes subject to agreeing accessibility targets

Chartered Surveyor Q6 PossiblyCongestionNo

STOP Harlow North Q6 Yes Improving safety and travel to and from schools.No – we have too many target in local government already.


Q6 How can we give an opinion on the cycle target if there is no baseline. There is a target for an 11% increase in the number of cycle journey are you going to do that?Cycling, safety and speed limit compliance.Target to increase the length of cycleways.


Q6 Targets really mean very little.To reduce dependence on cars.What parking provision is given to each dwelling, eg; one car per house.


Q6 Yes – Safety

93




Q6 The targets for cycling (which differ in the summary and full document in one case too low 11% was NOT agreed at the Herts Cycle Forum was talk of 20% which was greeted with incredulity), and in the other the target of 2707 trips per day has no foundation since there is no baseline. 18 counters are insufficient for Herts allowing only 1.8 per ……. Bucks have received Government plaudits for increasing cycling to and county cycles parked there. Very few secondary schools have adequate cycle parking facilities and a target might be to increase the number of cycle stands at such schools (after counting those that establish a baseline).

Improving accessibility. The paths and footways used by those with impaired mobility are usually not included in Travelwise counts or in of condition. Many other targets are influenced by problems of access.

Reduction of noise pollution and this could be projected as a figure decibels per kilometre travelled.

CTC – Right to Ride Q6 Those that will lead to greater walking and cycling.

Mode share journey to workMode share of all journeysWorkplace travel plans

Resident Q6 Greater use of public transport.Kimpton Parish Council

Q6 Yes


Q6 Improving safety on our roads.

94




Q6 Cyclists in the county are fixed to use minor roads for much of their journeys. The road surfaces of most of the County’s minor roads are in a dreadful state. Unrepaired potholes necessitate constant surveying and weaving by the cyclists cycling after dark is impossible. When repairing minor roads greater attention should be given to the edge strips. Modern motor vehicles can cope with pot holes even if they have to de drive slower; bicycle wheels and supervisior’s cannot


Q6 In general the types of indicators listed are supported. However should HCC and its partners not be seen as seeking to improve beyond the status quo as referred to for the indicators listed at (a), (b), (c), (d) and (h) under section 11.2, Mandatory Indicators? If the status quo is to remain, then when reviewing such targets adequate reasons need to be given as to why HCC is suggesting no change to the baseline.

Resident Q6 I didn’t notice any targets – only projections, which are not the same thing.

Resident Q6 Yes – school/college transport involving over 16s. It seems very odd to leave VI forms out of your school objectives.

Resident Q6 NoResident Q6 Use of public transport – surely we should aim for an

increase?Resident Q6 Public transport provision needs to go up if car use is to be

controlled.Standon Parish Council

Q6 Cycleways


Q6 Yes – Improving separation of pedestrians from traffic.

95




Q6 Target Levels – The projections are a combination of actual and percentage figures. Some of which are also very precise. Eg. Cycling. The targets would be clearer if all the projection figures were put in a percentage format.

Target Priority – It could be argued that any one of the targets would have a greater priority than another. However, if Congestion is the key issue in the LTP the targets that look at this issue should be given the greatest prominence. Apart from the Congestion indicator this will also include targets for increasing sustainable transport modes such as Public Transport Patronage, Bus & Rail Service Indicators, Cycling Trips, Journeys to School and Changes in peak period traffic flowOther Targets to be included – An indicator should be included on rail journeys made under Public Transport Patronage. An indicator purely focusing on The Abbey Line is too localised as this only covers two districts within the County. A simple modal share baseline and projection would also be useful over the lifetime of the plan.


Q6 Support Herts ongoing support for safe routes to school. Why not a 100% target for travel plans by end of plan period? Regrettable that no stretch target in slight injuries as these can include debilitating and traumatic injuries.


Q6 Good to see a cycling target showing increase of 11%. I appreciate that training, cycle parking, designated routes are means to an end and journeys are the outcome to focus on. However is this leisure or utility travel? Peak time would be a more stretching target with more impact on congestion

96




Q6 Promotion and encouragement [for public transport] is laudable but scarcely sufficient. Disappointing there is no ridership increase projected.


Q6Disappointing no target set for improving accessibility


Q6 Providing targets for congestion and accessibility include answers to questions 1 and 2.


Q6 For Adult Care Services the priority would be accessibility.Access to transport is essential to enable people with physical/learning disabilities/frail elderly/mental health to lead full and purposeful lives. As well as physical access, transport staff and operators may not understand their needs. Support and training should be available for people with physical/learning disabilities to become independent travellers.


Q6 The four areas looked at are, Health Care, Learning, Employment and Food Shopping; considering needs to be taken for each of the four areas individually as well as what is common to all.These should include issues associated vulnerable adults to avoid discrimination.


Q6 Needs to include social inclusion in all of the areas.


Q6 From ‘projections’ in lieu of ‘aims’, at best a ‘projection’ can be seen as a forecast which implies little intervention. It is reasonable to expect a Plan to be causal, not merely reporting, whatever value monitoring may have.

HCC outlined projections for consultation and will then set targets as a result of the feedback received.

97




Q6 From targets unrelated to base data or current performance; otherwise meaningless.

HCC have inserted further details on the trends and trajectories to provide greater context.


Q6 From reneging on targets; the National Cycle Strategy (adopted in an earlier draft) called for a doubling of cycle trips 1996-2002, doubling again by 2012 – on a very low base; the ‘projection’ of an 11% increase over 5 years is paltry by comparison, implying minimal attempt at intervention.

HCC agreed a target in 2004 to increase cycling by 20% by 2015/16. The 11% increase is the trajectory of this previously consulted on and agreed target.


Q6 There has to be a general dissatisfaction that many objectives are merely to maintain the status quo, against a perception of missing current Plan targets, with little improvements forecast within the 5 year outlook.

The targets set are realistic within the budget limitations and current trends.

Love Architecture Q6 Reasonable and achievable Noted.Love Architecture Q6 No of people living within 10 mins non-car travel of key

services. Square Km of pedestrian priority space.The first indicator is one which could be further investigated through the development of the Accessibility Planning Strategy. The amount of pedestrian priority space is general within town centre where a pedestrianisation scheme has been implemented and would not be a countywide target.

98



Herts Society for the Blind and Welwyn Hatfield Access Group

Q6 Disappointed with the public transport patronage, bus service, user satisfaction and bus punctuality projections.

The passenger transport projections are realistic based on the existing trends of decline.

Hertfordshire Rural Transport Partnership

Q6 Priority to improving public transport and stricter monitoring.

Shouldn’t Tring Station Gateway Project be mentioned here?

Tring Station Gateway Project is a new project which is supported but has yet to be endorsed for funding by HCC


Q6 It is difficult to believe that you consider, 2,707 trips per day across the authority by bicycle to be a reasonable target by 2010/2011. It clearly shows the unbalanced nature of your plan, which proposes to pay only lip service to any sort of change from cars to sustainable transport. Much more cycle commuting, trips to school and visits to town centres could take hundreds and eventually thousands of cars off the roads and should be planned for now.


Q6 The Borough Council considers that more challenging targets should be included and consider the inclusion of a target for cycleway condition in addition to footway condition and include indicators on the length of footpaths/bridleways/cycle paths completed.


Q6 Re para 3.7 I totally support the CC concern re not widening the A1(M)

Noted.

Resident Q6 Page 14 penultimate para, This item also ought to include reference to the event in Tring in September with interactive mapping etc. or is Tring looked upon as too small and peripheral to count.

HCC agree to include the Tring example.

99




Q6 Yes


Q6 To achieve an 11% increase in cycle journeys. To stop deterioration of roads.


Q6 Yes – to improve transport or cycles on trains in Hertfordshire.To meet the Basic Service Parameters for Rail.At present, Ashwell and Morden has an hourly service outside peak hours (6.1 suggests minimum of 2 trains per hour).


Q6 Major roads scheme A602 Stevenage – Ware – Hock Cross has waited long enough.


Q6 No – cant have too many targets else you will not meet them.


Q6 Yes


Q6 Maintenance of roads


Q6 Yes – to stop patching and temporary repairs to potholes and prepare and adhere to say a 3 year plan of repairs.


Q6 Yes


Q6 Yes – Public transport in rural areas


Q6 No


Q6 Yes Noted

100




Q6 Road improvements if you wish your cyclists to use roads as this would help reduce cars.


Q6 No – not much point if you struggle with existing ones.


Q6 Yes


Q6 Improving safety on our roads.


Q6 Cyclists in the county are fixed to use minor roads for much of their journeys. The road surfaces of most of the County’s minor roads are in a dreadful state. Unrepaired potholes necessitate constant surveying and weaving by the cyclists cycling after dark is impossible. When repairing minor roads greater attention should be given to the edge strips. Modern motor vehicles can cope with pot holes even if they have to de drive slower; bicycle wheels and supervisior’s cannot


Q6 Increase load factors on the buses.


Q6 No comment.


Q6 Reduction of traffic noise.


Q6 Yes – Noise reduction targets in key places measurable reduction in decibels.

101



Question 7 (Q7) – For the major schemes, what are your priorities for the next five years?Anon. Q7 The Telematics Strategy should have the highest priority. Comments noted and will

be reported to the Transport Panel.

Abfly Q7 St Albans – Watford Rail DevelopmentHatfield – St Albans – Watford Rail

HCC are working with the SRA as one of six pilot Community Rail Partnerships to improve the Abbey Line route between St Albans and Watford.


Q7 1. Croxley Rail Link2. Little Haddam by Pass3. A602 Improvements

Comments noted and will be reported to the Transport Panel.


Q7 The Croxley Rail Link is probably older than I am. I suggest it should be completed or dropped.The Little Hadham Bypass should be given priority since it helps to improve East-West transport links.



Q7 Watford Junction Interchange, especially if it can reduce congestion around the Station and rat-running through the adjacent area.

Success for the Abbey Line proposals would be welcome – especially if thought could be given to an eastward extension to Hatfield or other suitable link with East Coast Main Line.

The Abbey Line has been accepted as a pilot Community Rail Partnership.


Q7 Watford Junction InterchangeCroxley Rail Link


102



Heath Mount School Q7 The A602. In particular, given the poor history of personal injury accidents, we would like urgent measures to improve safety on this route. Given that Heath mount School is on this route investment in safety measures such as lighting and a speed limit are critically important. This is especially the case as the projection for improving safety on Hertfordshire’s roads is to reduce by at least 12 from current levels (2003) the number of children killed on Hertfordshire’s roads (half of which are killed while travelling in vehicles).


Living Streets Q7 Croxley Rail LinkCounty Telematics Strategy



Q7 Rail schemes – Croxley Rail Link and Watford Interchange. Any roads upgrades to intergrate with airports expansion potential to take advantage of cross funding.



Q7 None Noted.

Spatial Graphics Q7 Yes – “Telematics” are developing rapidly, but government sees this technology only as a revenue – earning opportunity, at present. This will damage public enthusiasm for the possibilities for traffic control, navigation, better and cheaper logistics, improved road safety, security of goods, etc, and general convenience. Better navigation, wiser decisions taken in good time, current information on roadworks etc will help to cut congestion – if the police will be more positive and see/study all the advantages instead.

HCC have proposed Telematics as a Major Scheme as through the use of information improvements to network efficiency can be made.


Q7 Rail improvementsBus improvementsPriority to pedestrians at all timesPedestrianisation of town centres and removal of parking areas. Majority of children walking to school or designated bus pick ups.


103



Resident Q7 Yes – If the Croxley Link does not go ahead, is there any likelihood of the barrow line being extended back to Watford junction subject to the reactivating and possible of centre return current rail.

Noted that Croxley Rail Link is a priority.

Resident Q7 I am not able to take a balanced view for the whole county, so my comments are restricted to the area that I know well.

In discussing the Little Hadham by-pass, the plan recognises the value of a bypass in improving the quality of life for the people of Little Hadham. However, unlike the Al0 by-pass, a Little Hadham by-pass would have a deleterious effect on the community in Standon. (I declare an interest: I live on the A120 in Standon, as do rather more people than live on the A120 in Little Hadham.) Already the "improved" traffic light phasing in Little Hadham causes problems in Standon, with traffic coming through from the East in much larger groups than used to be the case. The situation will become more difficult - and, I believe, more dangerous - when the new housing at Standon Mill and at the top of Standon Hill is occupied with more cars joining the road from entrances where the view of the road is limited.

Ideally, from a Standon resident's point of view, a Little Hadham by-pass should not be considered without a Standon by-pass. However, this would be expensive and have the disadvantage that it would increase traffic. It should be possible to divert HGVs to use the A4l4 as a link to the Al0 and the A505 as a link to the Al (which will be viable after the Baldock by-pass has opened). Maybe this implies that a greater priority should be the link between the A4l4 at Eastwick and the M11. Although this might have a deleterious effect on Hertford, it could become important if the development North of Harlow takes place.

Comments are noted and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

104



Resident continued. Having diverted the HGVs, the need at Little Hadham is to enable buses to get through quickly. A single, reversible bus lane seems possible (i.e. taking buses to Bishop's Storford in the morning and from Bishop's Stortford in the evening), which should also have the effect of reducing the number of cars. Even better, would be a bus only bypass, which could then be a relatively narrow two-lane road (or even a single lane controlled like a single-track railway).

Finally, I can see no point in dualling the Bishop's Stortford northern by-pass unless both Little Hadham and Standon are by-passed. (The plan does not mention accidents, so that I assume that the present by-pass is not particularly dangerous. Accidents seem to occur most frequently between the by-pass and Standon) The case made in the plan for the dualling is extremely weak, taking no account of congestion further along the A120.

County Councillor Q7 No – I would wish to support the inclusion of the A602 within the LTP bid. This road has caused concerns to local villages, Watton, Hooks Cross etc. It has been the subject of petition to East Herts Highways Panel. That panel fully supported its inclusion.

Comments noted that the priority is the A602 as a Major Scheme and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q7 A120 Little Hadham Bypass Comments noted and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q7 None of them are priorities for me. Comments noted and will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q7 The major schemes are all car-based except two this suggests predict and provide for the car. Instead, major schemes should be aimed at reducing the volume of traffic and boasting alternative modes.

105



Resident Q7 Which ever has the greatest impact on minimising the increase, or actually achieving a decrease in CO2 and particle emissions. How about making it a policy that all road widening or bypass schemes shall have to include the provision of a carbon sink (e.g. permanently set aside woodland, grassland or similar) to the same level as the increased CO2 levels. The level to be quadrupled wherever the new road impacts biodiversity, SSSI status, or ancient woodland.

Resident Q7 Croxley Rail LinkWatford Junction Interchange

Resident Q7 I can't speak for all of Hertfordshire, but I would like to see a by-pass for Little Hadham, But it must be a by-pass, not a thru-pass. It must go north and not split the village in half as outlined in an earlier proposal. That would now be unacceptable to the community, and again stand in the face of your "vision" and be seriously opposed at all costs. This village has had ample share of environmental impacting and will not countenance being bulldozed in half with any damaging schemes just to save the council a few bob. We really would like to reclaim our community for its inhabitants and use the opportunities a northerly bypass would give us to develop into a more viable habitat. If a southerly bypass is in the councils thinking, then for us that would be more blight, so we would rather stick with the devil we know.

A bypass for Little Hadham has been identified as a potential major scheme proposal within the LTP.

106



Resident Q7 Yes - Reduce the clutter of the excessive level of signage* (*public & private) upgrading the A1(M) to 3 lanes. J6-9 upgrading the A405 link between M25 and m1 – Lobby to amend M1 junction 6 entrance and exit (south). Improving the A120 Puckeridge to M11. Replacing lost bus shelters. Provide line information of bus arrivals. Consistency between different operators in pricing.

HCC supports the English Heritage ‘Save Our Streets’ campaign which seeks to improve the streetscape and remove sign clutter. HCC respond to Highway Agency proposals on motorway improvements, and have pressed for the widening of the A1(M)

Resident Q7 Yes - Major scheme for full passenger interchange at Watford junction Station essential to include coach interchange. National Express Coaches heading north start from Victoria then next stop is Milton Keynes. To prevent travellers 1st travelling into Victoria Essential Watford is 1st stop north NOT Milton Keynes.

Priority noted as Watford Junction Station and this will be reported to the Transport Panel.

Resident Q7 1. Little Hadham bypass (should be part funded by airport authority)

2. A414 Gascoyne Way, Hertford (a key route East-West)


Resident Q7 A120 bypass around Bishops Stortford bypass around Little Hadham.

Comments notes and will be reported to the Transport Panel.


Q7 Hadham BypassDual Carriageway A120Long Term – A10 Bedford to Royston safetyEast – West Road


107



East Herts Council Q7 i) I do strongly support making the A120 bypass around Bishops Stortford with 2 lanes in both directions except for the part going through Birchanger Wood, unless a Pedestrian Bridge could be built over it. But the part that goes through wood is not the most dangerous from drivers’ point of view. The stretch between Stansted Road/Birchanger roundabout and the “Tesco Roundabout” is the most dangerous of definitely needs to have 4 lanes.

ii) ByPass for Little Hadham is desperately needed.


Resident Q7 Definitely the rail, information, and analysis schemes have priority over road “improvement”. The two A120 schemes seem to pander to BAA's megalomania, and fall into the thoroughly undesirable predict and provide" category (given current. traffic flows are not excessive for this type of road) thereby contradicting fundamental principles of this transport plan; the A602 proposal threatens to make things worse by increasing traffic speeds. Though I have used that. road only on Sundays when traffic never seems particularly heavy, I am also conscious that the form of the original road effectively controls traffic speed and is therefore not too unpleasant for vulnerable road users eg cyclists like me.

If there is a problem at other times with crossing and turning right onto or off the A602, then that is better solved using traffic lights that change regularly to break the traffic flow, particularly given the benefit of such lights can extend some distance from their site. Upgrading this road as implied will pander to boy racers and make it a no go area for various other road users. This is not acceptable (see Q6 response on p4 above).

108




Q7 We strongly support both the Little Hadham bypass and the dualling of the A120 at Bishops Stortford in order that Hertfordshire businesses might be able to fully exploit the opportunities offered by the expansion of Stansted Airport.The improvements of the A602 Ware to Stevenage road would further cement the strategic positioning of Stevenage’s business areas in relation to those in North London, for example Brimsdown.We would welcome the implementation of the Croxley Rail Link, providing even stronger links with London.

Resident Q7 1. Transport/congestion2. A120 bypass Bishops Stortford3. Watford Junction Station4. Croxley Rail Link5. A602 – Hook Cross6. Little Hadham


Q7 We welcome the improvements to Watford Junction station as it is this scheme that is likely to provide the most benefit to our district. It is however disappointing that there are no major schemes planned for the City and District of St Albans not only for the period of the LTP2 but also beyond.


Q7 May be some health issues relating to Cardiff Road?

Chartered Surveyor Q7 Little Hadham BypassSTOP Harlow North Q7 Croxley Rail Link

Watford Junction InterchangeEast Herts Council Cycle Forum Group

Q7 Little Hadham bypass but ONLY if it has a cyclepath added (extend width of the road) the WHOLE length from Bishops Stortford to A10.


Q7 Building a bypass around Little Hadham.Making the A120 bypass around Bishop Stortford into two lanes in the directions.

109




Q7 A602 Stevenage to Ware – improvement.Bypass – Little Hadham


Q7 My priority would be providing electronic information to all road users except that road users include horse riders, cyclists, motorcyclists (because of poor or absent footways or shared use paths) pedestrians, wheelchair users and disabled buggies.

North Herts Resident

Q7 A bypass for Royston A10. With the increase in housing already in Royston, the A10 has become much busier! The pavements on each of the A10 by Sun Hill are less than 3ft wide. This causes tremendous danger to pedestrians, especially when multi-axle lorries travel by, attempt to pass in opposite directions. Although Much Hadham would our other choice, we feel that the width of the highway and pavement greater there and cause less of a danger – they have controls with the lights, whereas Royston has nothing. Drivers approach Royston on downhill at high speeds, although there is a 30 mph restriction. Family with young children and push chairs have to use this section of road way to and from school. The pollution emitted from these vehicles in captured in this restricted area, forcing pedestrians to inhale these …..


Q7 The schemes listed do not have a direct impact on North Herts; the production of a County Telematics strategy is supported.


Q7 Yes – If the Bishops Stortford by horses to be widened and Little Hadham bypassed, Standon must be included in the programme. The Wadesmill bypass has put more traffic on the A120 through Standon.

110




Q7 None of the major schemes listed directly affect Welwyn Hatfield. However, consideration should be given to including the redevelopment of Welwyn Garden City town centre. Besides improving sustainable access to the town centre it is also planned to significantly change the road layout in the Osborn Way area and relocate the bus station.


Q7 Support final two schemes – Watford Jn interchange and traffic management. Oppose three road building schemes. These will serve to increase not reduce or manage traffic demand and increase CO2 emissions. The funds required would be far better spent on revenue funding for community and workplace based projects to achieve modal shift and road maintenance.


Q7 From incredulity; that selection of 2 major schemes to be incorporated in the present Plan are as yet undecided and that the result of consultation before 3rd June will help decide?

HCC carried out a consultation in 2004 which provided a preferred list of 5 schemes. HCC through further consultation wishes to seek the views of stakeholders.


Q7 Let the Bishops Stortford issue be dependant upon, and funded within the necessary infrastructure required for the proposed Stanstead Airport expansion.

Comments on the Major Schemes will be reported to the Transport Panel.


Q7 By-passes merely move traffic congestion elsewhere; traffic management at Little Hadham cannot be dealt with in isolation, particularly with the EERA proposals for incremental housing.



Q7 I also consider the proposed programme to develop electronic info for all road users misplaced energy and resource.


111




Q7 Already significant radio assistance to drivers and commercial systems that supplement journey planning; encourage better advice in this respect but information limited to in-county guidance would be largely ineffective; don’t go down this road.

Telematics provides information which can be utilised to direct users efficiently around the network.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Q7 The Trust are surprised and disappointed that the proposed Cardiff Road link road had not mentioned in the LTP and was included as one of the proposed major schemes, nor was it flagged as a major scheme beyond 2010/11.

Herts Society for the Blind and Welwyn Hatfield Access Group

Q7 County Telematics is of prime importance. A120 Little Hadham and A602 improvements appear to afford considerable improvement in East/West traffic as well as providing for any increase in traffic from Stansted Airport.


Q7 Priorities – Telematics and A602 Improvements.

Anon. Q7 The Council supports the Watford Junction Interchange scheme.The Council consdiders that the lack of east/west passenger links is a countywide problem that should be given greater prominence in the plan.

Resident Q7 Page 49 Little Hadham Bypass, A602 Improvements – whatever the justification of these schemes, whether improving them will only encourage more traffic and just cause more congestion elsewhere.

112



Resident Q7 A602 Improvements. This refers to the problems of vehicle users but underestimates the impact on the beleaguered folk who live here. As the Government proposes to significantly increase the population in this areas, an already intolerable situation is likely to worsen.

HCC are proposing improvements to the A602 as a Major Scheme bid. The County Council opposed the East of England Plan and it’s associated growth.


Q7 Bypasses around villages/towns would help but seriously costly. However it would give rural areas better quality of life. However all countryside not to be ruined with these bypasses. Difficult situation and requires careful planning.

113



Question 8 (Q8) – In the longer term, are there any measures or Major Schemes which should be included in future Local Transport Plans?Anon. Q8 A need to review traffic management in St Albans. Comment produced on to

Mid Herts Area PlanAssociation of British Drivers

Q8 Extend M10 over the A414 from Park Street to Hatfield. Note that the M10 will lose motorway status as part of the forthcoming M1 widening project.


Q8 YES - The integration of motorcycling in the L TP as a legitimate and practical mode of transport in which the motorcycling strategy is delivered with its policies and measures implemented.

In addition better East - West public transport links such as a rail service from West Hertfordshire to Buckinghamshire on the West and Essex on the East.

HCC have a powered two-wheelers policy which will accompany the LTP.


Q8 The lack of an east-west rail (or express bus) service means that my car is my only reasonable mode of travel to say. Oxford or Cambridge, or to access to East West Main Line. A fast orbital public transport service must be a priority.

HCC agree that the lack of east –west routes are a key issue for the county.

Chiltern Society Q8 Yes- See 2. circular bus services dedicated to single towns. Comment will be forwarded to the Passenger Transport Unit.


Q8 No Noted.

Hertfordshire Police Q8 Yes - Congestion charging Congestion Charging is not supported by HCC.


Q8 Yes - Better East/West county’s links by road apart from A414.

Comments noted on better strategic road network east-west across the county.

114



Hitchin Visioning Q8 Yes – I would like to see quality partnerships agreed with the road freight industry to safeguard the environment of sensitive locations in the County. One example is Hitchin town centre, particularly the Market Place and the surrounding streets. Currently, a variety of freight vehicles, very large to the very small, deliver in this area. With a quality partnership, perhaps some form of pooling could be organised to serve the needs of the areas retailers and businesses by more suitable smaller vehicles. This implies a ban on larger vehicles and consolidation of loads prior to delivery to reduce the number of repeat journeys that some operators make.

HCC have developed and supported a Freight Quality Partnership in Stevenage to address routing, signage and information.

Living Streets Q8 Yes. 1. Get a grip on footway parking, which is steadily getting worse and becoming more and more the norm in Hertfordshire (unlike London boroughs where is banned).2. Bring back zebra crossings for pedestrians (i.e belisha beacon based). The new signal controlled crossings are much too slow in stopping traffic to be of much use. Both pedestrians and drivers much prefer the old style zebra crossings

Metroline Q8 Yes - Review the traffic management in St Albans due to delays experienced today and to eliminate as much private vehicles from St Peters Street as possible.

Currently, St Peters Street is a demonstration project for the DfT for Safer Streets.


Q8 Yes –Infrastructure ) airports expansionConstraints ) EER housing projection ) Home zones/20 mph zones

115




Q8 Plan should acknowledge both the airports expansion proposals the EERA plan.To develop strategy planning to limit it.To develop an honest vision (Projection) for transport issues to the extent permitted (maybe multi case projections of worsening impact).

The LTP outlines some of the regional issues, but will not take the East of England Plan into account until it is adopted.


Q8 Yes – the provision of high quality covered cycle parking at every Hertfordshire railway station.

HCC supports the improvement of cycle infrastructure at railway stations.


Q8 Yes –Infrastructure ) airports expansionConstraints ) EER housing projection ) Home zones/20 mph zones.


Q8 Yes – Back Welwyn Viaduct planComplete Met line to Watford junctionExpress buses for East West journeys or where no rail link where needed in peak.

HCC have a Rail and Bus Strategy which will accompany the LTP,

Watford Council for Voluntary Service

Q8 Yes - There is no mention of Community Car Schemes and our role in improving accessibility for many elderly or inform people.

HCC agree to insert wording on Community Car Schemes in the Accessibility section.


Q8 Light rail schemes or alternatives to roads. Use roads for light rail, tram or bus only – use European towns and cities as a model.

HCC currently have not light rail scheme proposals.

116



Resident Q8 Yes – Wake up and get out of the 1980’s This roads based plan is out of date and will not draw in central government funding introduce sustainable Transport Strategy, uncompassing principles of Local Agenda 21. educate members, officers and public to the Sustainability agenda. Reconnect Hertford East to ECML. Bedford – Cambridge rail link (Dunstable/Luton line)

Congestion was identified in a MORI poll as the number one transport priority that the public wanted the County Council to tackle.

Resident Q8 As suggested above, the A4l4 – M11 link should probably be moved into the current plan, probably superseding the Little Hadham by-pass and certainly superseding the dualling of the Bishop's Storford northern by-pass.

I know that past attempts to create an East-West public transport route across the county has run into many difficulties, but this does remain a major issue which needs to be addressed. The A414 – M11 link is a small part of this need.

Resident Q8 More cycle lanes and cycle paths. Noted.Resident Q8 The county should press for a single pot of money instead of

major and minor. The County needs a major investment in alternative modes, urgently to contain predicted increases in car travel.

Resident Q8 Yes – Consult with Parish Councils improvement of roads in Tring. Removing the temporary car park at Tring station which is there illegally thus causing more people to bring their cars to the station. Improve bus services in Tring and generally recognise that Tring and its roads are part of Hertfordshire and AONB Status.

HCC publish an annual highway work programme for the county which is available to the Parish Councils. Station Car Parks are not under the control of HCC as they are owned by Network Rail.

117



Resident Q8 A proper analysis of movements and sustainability issues needs to be done as a part of a more fine grained approach to planning than the RSS process has done to date. In this context inclusion of the A414-M11 scheme in longer term plans seems premature

Resident Q8 I cant see any benefit to the by-pass for Little Hadham without addressing the knock on at Standon and at the single carriage elements within the Bishops Stortford by-pass. Its all linked, and addressing just one problem will just move it on down the road

Noted.

Resident Q8 Yes – when the probable additional housing developments takes place and the support services then needed are put in place in both West Herts of N&E Herts, changes in schemes will be needed. These cannot of course be detailed now.

HCC will revise the LTP if there are key strategic developments that will affect the plan content.

Resident Q8 Yes – make cycling into town centres easier. Leisure routes in the countryside are of course wonderful but although more difficult to implement utility cycling to town centres is important. St Albans need a safe way into the centre. A cycle way across Verulamium park would also help avoid busy roads.

HCC have a county Cycling Programme that seeks to improve and provide cycle routes.

Resident Q8 Yes -I would like to see a large expansion of home zones in urban areas giving pedestrians and cyclists a higher priority than cars. The 20 mph speed limit in such areas would appeal to me as I have large numbers of speeding cars passing my home daily.

HCC supports and has implemented Home Zones and 2mph speed limits in the county to improve the local environment.

118



Resident Q8 Major schemes – A414 through Hertford to be tunnelled – knock down Gascoyne Way car park – so ugly.Measures – numbers of children walking/cycling to school – numbers of children playing out after school – these are all positive things that should be counted as measures of your success.

The A414 through Hertford is not on the list of major schemes being proposed for this LTP. It is on the list of proposed schemes in the long term after 2010/11.

Resident Q8 Yes – the question of environment and air quality is an issue in my view and should be monitored, especially around Stansted Airport. It is not all the motor vehicles that is polluting the atmosphere, also the jet aircraft are polluters on a larger scale and this should be recognised and addressed even though it is as unpopular to the flying public as driving their 4x4 vehicles is a no-go subject. It must be faced.

Air Quality Monitoring is undertaken by District and Borough Councils and reported to the County Council. Stansted Airport is within Essex County Council but has an impact on Hertfordshire residents.

Resident Q8 Yes – provide more speed limit signs – so drivers know exactly what these are and always enforce speed limits – where I live close to the Leighton Buzzard Road – there are no speed signs – drivers think they can do 70 mph – this road has lamp columns, even I am not sure if it is 30 or 40 mph – we need crossing over it! There are other roads like this in Herts. A project is needed to find out where these areas/roads are where vehicles speed/there are no speed limit signs/where people cannot cross the road. Also stop wasting money on cycle lanes – to me there are not enough cyclists to warrant the costs.

HCC have recently adopted a Speed Management Strategy which will seek to review speed limits and signage to ensure consistency across the county.

119



Resident Q8 Yes - You should consider road across the county from Baldock to Stansted Airport or Buntingford across to Stanstead Airport. You need to increase your percentages on projections for public transport bearing in mind free travel for over 60’s from 2006.

East –West routes are a priority for HCC, especially for passenger transport. Comments noted on the need to stretch the passenger transport patronage target.


Q8 Yes – Issues connected with noise and appropriate mitigation measures.

HCC have covered the issues of noise related to transport in the LTP.

East Herts Council Q8 I am sorry, but I have not had time to consider this properly. I only heard about this consultation 4 days ago – it does seem very rushed.

HCC have undertaken a 4 week consultation on the LTP providing the opportunity for stakeholders to influence the development of the LTP.

Tring Town Council Q8 Yes – A41 Berkhamsted/Hemel bypass – re-engineering of slip roads to reduce accidents.


Q8 No

Resident Q8 The realignment of those roads that have been modified to subconsciously encourage in appropriate high speed, so this no longer happens (ie wherever there is a speed problem).Speed cameras are not a morally acceptable or safe solution to this issues.


Q8 Although not included in this LTP submission, in the future we would strongly recommend improvements to the Gunnels Wood roundabout, taking into account the forthcoming Buro-Happold masterplan, and supporting our work with the Gunnels Wood Business Partnership.

120



Resident Q8 Better transport services to day patients to all Hertfordshire hospitals, - access to leisure facilities by public transport, (e.g. Hatfield Forest Herts Border/Essex)

Resident Q8 1. Better signposting for cyclists, and perhaps a cycle map for Hertfordshire in areas.

2. Footpaths map in Hertfordshire some park are very overgrown limited access.

Resident Q8 Yes – give more say to local people. You are too far away from local issues.


Q8 We request that schemes be assessed through the St Albans, Harpenden and London Colney Urban Plans.


Q8 See Q7 also a little confused as to where the Health policy sites within the current Plan and how it will be articulated in any final plan.

Chartered Surveyor Q8 A120 from the M11 to the A10 bypassing Little Hadham and Standon.

STOP Harlow North Q8 A proper analysis of movements and sustainability issues needs to as a part of a more fine grained approach to planning than the RSS has done to date. In this context inclusion of the A414-M11 scheme long term plans seems premature.


Q8 Look into East – West train link.


Q8 An improved road link from Luton to Stansted. The A120 improvement help.

121




Q8 The A602 through Hitchin provides an east west link between the A1 Stevenage and via the A505, to the M1 and Luton. On completion of the Baldock bypass it is likely the A602 will have increased traffic flow. Westbound traffic on the A602 during the weekday am peak is reg slow moving and congested and at times traffic queues for up to 3 miles the A505 towards the A1m. Bedfordshire CC are considering a possible new road to link the M1 west of Luton and A505 east of Luton. Consider should be given to alleviating congestion at Hitchin.


Q8 Policeman should be urged to use the recently introduced device uses a saliva test to detect drivers who are under the influence of medicines.NOTE: Those who merely received the summary (such as Tring Cycling Campaign) will not have made sense of this questionnaire since the summary does not summarise the full document, and does not refer vision.

CTC – Right to Ride Q8 Fare more emphasis is need on providing a comprehensive walking cycling network.

Council Tax payers for North Herts for 26 years

Q8 If not possible in the scheme for the next five years, we certainly with the A10 Royston bypass by then. This will be even more critical if East of England Plan is implemented!!


Q8 Under section 12.5, 'Longer Term beyond L TP2', will the A 10 at Royston include the Royston north-south bypass? If not, NHDC would like to see this included in the list. As a result of the RSS and RTS there may be other Major schemes such as the Hitchin southern bypass linking in to the possible Luton northern bypass. These should be included as part of the review of the L TP if considered necessary following adoption of the RSS and RTS. NHDC would like to see an eastern access link to the Wilbury Way industrial area in Hitchin investigated and possibly included in the L TP in the future given the increasing congestion problems at the Grove Road/Cadwell Lane junction.

122



Resident Q8 Yes – Aim to reduce “rat-run” through Ashwell.Resident Q8 A comprehensive network of cycle paths – it works in

Cambridge and Holland.Hertfordshire Constabulary

Q8 (Full)The development of Automatic Number Plate Recognition across the strategic road networks is a major undertaking and one which requires the support of the Highways Authority. This would be a major scheme and I would ask that it should be considered as a focussed area of work, within the transport plan, to assist in delivering the priorities outlined.

ResponseThe County Council will need to have discussions with the Police on the benefits and issues of ANPR, and how HCC could assist in the project. It could possible form part of any future telematics strategy.


Q8 No costings or definite timescale are available at present, but the redevelopment of WGC as mentioned in the response to Question 7, should be considered for inclusion


Q8 It is outrageous that the LTP will propose seven road schemes as strategic priorities to investigate further. It behoves the county transport planners to search their hearts and minds over the likely state of the climate by 2010/11.


Q8 The LTP should be adopting the kind of civil emergency contingency planning to facilitate a massive modal shift by the end of the LTP period. The plan should be calculating current and target carbon emissions from transport for various transport modes and corridors. The plan should be working with communities to act as centres of good practice. Stevenage’s cycle infrastructure must be capitalised upon. There is potential for a national centre of excellence here.

123




Q8 All transport scheme development linked to airport expansion and long distance commuter settlements for London should be blocked in favour of policies for local travel to work and teleworking


Q8 We would like to see a greater emphasis on developing better east-west passenger transport routes.


Q8 Whether consideration could be given to software that could assist in integrating transport.

BAA Q8 East-West Improvements. BAA will soon be in a position to use our models to better quantify the impacts associated with airport expansion and test likely outcomes. We would welcome the opportunity of working with you to evaluate such schemes, and we are willing to discuss access arrangements to the relevant BAA models.


Q8 Expansion of local airports might well take us beyond the timescale of this Plan but the issues must be tackled. The airports strategy should be of major consequence in this Plan period.

Love Architecture Q8 We consider that the LTP should include the development of Transport Development Areas and Clear Zones around suitable rail station in town centres.

Love Architecture Q8 Clear Zones and Transpor Development Areas.Highways Agency Q8 Agency would have concerns regarding A414 to M11

improvements that would promote a new junction on the M11.


Q8 Yes – to improve rail communication with neighbouring counties in developing transport plans. For example, plans to develop a safe cycle (walking route from Ashwell to Ashwell & Marden station have fallen due to lack of co-operation by Cambridgeshire.

124




Q8 Yes – Use of River Lea from Hertford downstream to take rubbish to the Edmonton incinerator – especially when Westmill Landfill is filling up.


Q8 Yes – A way of overcoming traffic congestion in Hertford when the A414 meets Gascoyne Way from about 3pm until 6.30 pm


Q8 A10 Bedford to Royston Improvements to SafetyWest to East Road


Q8 Yes – better use of bus/rail ticketingMore leisure/shopping route at weekendsRe-statement of the comprensive green lineNetwork


Q8 Yes – Use of low noise surfaces when resurfacing main roads, like the A41.

125

CONSULTATION COMMENTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED

Letter Section Comment HCC Response

Anon Cycling The NCN Route 57 runs close to the schools and with small alterations this route could e made to include all schools within Berkhamsted.


I am confused by an apparent contradiction of statistics within the document. I have e-mailed DH about this and he has told me one was an error. My confusion was ‘On page 4 you say in 2.2 that traffic growth has reduced over the last three years to less than 1% per year. Yet on page 19 you say in 6.1 ‘traffic with annual growth of around 2-3%, which is well above the national average.Dave has since advised me that page 19 is an error and that page 4 is correct. Thus the whole sense of that section on page 19 is wrong and must be corrected.

The document has been amended accordingly.

Aylesbury Vale District Council

No comment

Bridgewater Middle School, Berkhamstead and Greenway First and Nursery School, Berkhamsted

Safety We are pleased to see that the local travel plan wants to improve safety and travel to and from schools and to improve cycling in the county. We would endorse these proposals. We are also pleased to see that congestion is a theme you want to tackle too.


Overall, we are disappointed that the Plan lacks ambition in addressing the sustainability aspects of transport


2.1The Safer Routes to School and School Travel Plans have also been welcomed.

126



2.2 We would encourage the County Council to promote road safety through the education of recently-qualified drivers.


3.5 We should like to see the words ‘and persuade the Government to finance the fitting out of the new St. Pancras Thameslink station’ added to the end of para 3


3.7 We do not support the proposal to widen the M25 to dual 4 lanes. This would encourage more traffic.


Chapter 2 CPRE Herts has been pleased to see its proposed Quiet Lanes initiative taken up and looks forward to seeing further Quiet Lane projects.


Chapter 33.2

Support the County Council in not accepting the draft Regional Spatial Strategy


Chapter 55.2 Accessibility

Given the constraints on the County Council’s powers, it would be more appropriate to use the phrase ‘to encourage the development of at the beginning of this particular objective.


Chapter 88.3Safety

Support use of speed cameras for the Safety Camera Project. It would be helpful if the speed camera warning signs also carried a not of the speed limit in the area concerned


P52 CPRE now stands for ‘Campaign to Protect Rural England’ and not ‘Council for the Protection of Rural England.

127



Safety We feel there has been slow progress on the Quiet Lanes project since the original “STRAP” proposals and we look forward to it being rolled out elsewhere in the county.

Freight Transport Association

Hence, FTA has drawn up its own generic table for freight suggesting minimum requirements and the characteristics of a good LTP which is shown below:-

Criteria For Assessing Quality Of Local Transport PlansFreight

Minimum requirements

Characteristics of a Good LTP

Quality of LTP- Statement of the importance of efficient freight distribution- Statement of the importance of multi-modal approach: road, rail sea, waterway and air- Statement of continuing pre-eminent role for road freight movements (particularly urban areas)- Statement of intention to maintain a freight quality partnership, in consultation with industry

- Clear evidence of progress in establishing a freight quality partnership, and delivering outputs.- Clear strategies to help industry develop and implement sustainable distribution systems and

practices- Information on key routes (road, rail, other where relevant) for freight movement- Statement of identifying location of road congestion, its implications for freight movement, and

planned measures to address- Clear evidence of strategies to protect and enhance primary routes for lorry movements- Clear evidence of strategies to reconcile need for deliveries (especially urban) with access restrictions

– especially evening/night time

128


Freight Transport Association

FTA experience in relation to consultation by local authorities in developing LTP’s has varied widely from no meaningful consultation in a small minority of cases to models of excellence from some authorities. This reinforces our view that advice to local authorities, whether in the form of Best Practice Guidance or DfT Guidance, must emphasise the cardinal importance of freight within LTPs, and the cardinal importance of early consultation with bodies such as FTA to ensure that their freight policies fully reflect their role in helping industry to develop sustainable distribution systems and practices.

HCC have undertaken consultation on the draft LTP as best practice and to engage stakeholders in the development of the plan prior to submission to DfT in July.


Page 4 2.1 7th bullet point to include also ‘Parish Plans’


Pg 29 8.2 Second paragrapgh. I don’t think this a correct statement – very few pockets of disadvantage – better if it said ‘with pockets of deprivation.


Pg 13 4.1 4th paragraph on pg 13. These promises are achieved by the LTP through working with local communities and partners, eg Herts Rural Transport Partnership


Pg 24 7.4 Second bullet point… walking, cycling and ‘disabled ‘ route improvements through Area Plans, Rights of Way Improvement Plan and Hertfordshire Rural Transport Partnership access for all projects.


Pg 26 7.6 Last para… develop village travel plans and build on Parish Plans

129



Pg 31 8.3 Rural areas. Perhaps need to clarify vulnerable road users ‘i.e. walkers, cyclists, horse riders.


Pg 36 10.4 The county has pockets of deprivation which are being tackled through Local N…, Local Strategic Partnerships, Community Strategies and Herts Rural Community Council, CDA for Herts.


Pg 37 10.6 First bullet point – School Travel Plans, Company Travel Plans, Village Travel Plans.


Pg 6 2.2 Add another bullet point ‘Managing traffic in rural areas’ and refer to both Area Plans, County programmes, Village Travel Plans and Parish Plans.


Pg23 7.2 First paragraph. Strategic partners….These partners include key agencies, add ‘CDA for Herts, Herts Rural Transport Partnership.


The Council considers that the Watling Chase Greenways project should be explicitly mentioned in the LTP.

Agreed and inserted


Background The information section should include a summary of planning and other relevant functions at the District level

HCC agree to insert planning summary/


Policy The Borough Council expressed concerns about the RTS and East of England Plan in terms of growth and infrastructure burden.

The County Council has opposed the East of England Plan and the associated growth.

130


Highways Agency It would be useful to include in the LTP some information on the following issues that affect trunk roads in Herts. The high occupancy vehicle lane proposal for the M1, the de-specialisation of the M10, the potential de-trunking of the A5 south of Dunstable, on completion of the Dunstable Northern Bypass.With regard to the A1(M)6-8 a clearer explanation is required and a fuller explanation on the multi-modal study.

Agreed

Resident The Galleria in Hatfield – introduction of car park charging has changed our desire to go.

The Galleria is a privately owned facility over which HCC have no control.

Resident More car parks, cycle racks, motorcycle parking, less obstructive street furniture, bins and benches.

HCC support the English Heritage Campaign ‘Save our Streets’ which seeks to improve the streetscape through removing obstructive street furniture and signage.

Resident Finally a detail on p.27, final para: it seems to me that the recent trend away from a stones-on-tar road surface to what is sometimes an almost super-smooth asphalt exacerbates the winter ice problem.

Resident In addition there seems a “just in case” tendency to grit and re-grit night in night out even during dry but frosty weather even though salt does not evaporate and little treads off, until some roads by daytime are white with salt to the extent that road markings become barely visible. This is an expensive and extravagant exercise which needs to be better monitored by HCC.

HCC receive 24 hour weather information which informs the salting decisions.

131


Resident Around here, I am surprised at the quite minor residential roads, often on the level, which seem to be treated.

Resident Can I draw particular attention to my references to train services from Watford to Gatwick Airport, this could be made much more use of and if we are not careful, Central Trains could withdraw it.

Resident The lack of numbering of paras etc makes it extremely difficult to define comments on the document.

Noted.

Resident Page 14 Reference to the new cycling target centre of page, this is referred to as having been developed through the cycle forum. Instead this quite miserably low target was presented as a fait accompli to the Forum, it was criticised by all including Rob Marshal as being too undemanding. We were told that this was what the elected members had decided upon and it was not up for negotiation. Therefore I feel it wholly inappropriate to present the target as if it had been developed with/through the Cycle Forum.

HCC will amend the wording to reflect the involvement of the Cycle Forum.

Resident Page 36 bottom para Pleased to see reference to Rippleprint, hope that Tring can be the pilot scheme!!

Noted.

Resident Page 41 (h) Public Transport Patronage There are always references to what a difficult county Herts is to get people to use public transport particularly buses.

Resident Also reference is made to ACCIDENTS again instead of COLLISIONS.

HCC agree to amend.

Resident The whole document is very poorly annotated, when one tries to answer the Questionnaire it is very difficult generally and in the case of Q5 impossible for me to work out where in the document is/are the point or points that answers are required to.

The Shared Priorities are congestion, safety, accessibility, air quality and quality of life.

132


Resident 14.1 Rural Themes Bullet point 6-reference to “information provided door to door for hail and ride schemes. This has yet to be done for Tring’s 387, the worlds best kept secret – it is hail and ride!!

Resident 17.1 Surface access to airportsResident 2.1 last bullet point. As ever no mention of rail link from

Watford Junction to Gatwick. Resident 9.2 Station improvements:

Again I must refer to essential improvements required to Tring – waiting, toilets, cycle storage etc. Tring Gateway Project.

Resident Safer Roads With regards to 20mph speed limit along St Peters Street. It is seldom during the working day that vehicles will reach this speed. It can achieve nothing, especially if it is not enforceable.

The implementation of 20mph speed limits are appropriate in areas where there is a high number of vehicles and walkers mixing. The 20mph is enforced through the introduction of traffic calming features.

Resident Safety Page 28 SAFER ROADS section. On most of the first 2 pages reference is made to COLLISIONS instead of ACCIDENTS, which should be applauded. Unfortunately from the bottom of page 29 onwards the wording slips back into using ACCIDENT again. Can we have consistency and preferably stick to COLLISON

HCC agree to amend the word accident to collision on page 29.


Excuses of how difficult certain areas are to tackle, yet seeks my considered resolution by return.

133



From avoiding responsibility for availability of data?? action implied only when HM Govt. produces same!!! No plan evident at all re. congestion

The DfT have stated that they wish a congestion target to be based on journey time reliability which is data not currently collected. HCC have a Congestion Action Plan which outlines measures to be undertaken and has been inserted into the LTP.


Unqualified hope; that Herts Highways are capable of maintaining the roads (only)

Hertfordshire Highways are one of the leading authorities on Asset Management.


Specific identification of the Watling Chase Community Forest as having a valuable function in this respect ,would be appropriate for air quality, road hierarchy considerations and accessibility opportunities.

HCC agree to insert the Watling Chase Community Forest in the Air Quality section.


Presumably the Plan will be updated with respect to the declared St Albans AQMA.

The Plan will be updated once Defra have accepted the declaration of the AQMA. HCC are in discussion with St Albans DC to work on the AQMA issues.


Background It is disappointing that the LTP2 consultation says very little about integrating transport and land-use planning and about working in partnership with the district council

HCC agree to insert a new section about land-use planning and partnership working.

134


Transport for London

Background Hertfordshire may like to also consider linkages to the following:The Mayor’s Transport StrategyThe London Plan Reference to the adjacent London Boroughs who are all in the process of developing their Consultation Draft Local Implementation Plans.

The London Plan and Transport Strategy are referred to already within the LTP. HCC agree to insert wording on the plans of the adjacent London Boroughs.

135

€¦ · web viewthe original ltp made a token reference to motorcycling and unquantified targets...

Documents