Maximise Accessibility
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
Picture 5.6 Accessibility (Popup full image)
5.92 Maximising accessibility improves the ability of the local community, and in particular disadvantaged or vulnerable groups to access work and important services including education, health care, leisure and shopping. Improving accessibility by non-car modes can also help reduce the environmental impact of travel. By directing the location of new development the Preferred Option 1 ‘Spatial Strategy’ recognises the importance of accessibility as a guiding principle.
5.93 This section sets out a Preferred Option for improving accessibility by integrating transport and land use considerations, influencing the design of services and having regard to the following trends:
-
A growing economy and increased prosperity leading to increased car ownership and demand for travel;
-
The need to maintain and increase the proportion of people who travel by public transport;
-
Increasing passenger and freight movement through the Ports of Liverpool and Garston and Liverpool John Lennon Airport;
-
Changes to the residential population within the City Centre and the Housing Market Renewal area;
-
Increase in Car journeys (+12%) in Liverpool City Centre which is already designated as an Air Quality Management Area due to high levels of pollution, largely caused by traffic; and
-
Increase of traffic on key radial routes with disadvantaged communities being disproportionately affected by noise, poor air quality and road accidents.
5.94 The Preferred Option therefore responds to City wide issues such as supporting sustainable transport choices and sets out an approach to identifying and supporting transport infrastructure provision in light of the Core Strategy timescale of 2024.
Improving accessibility, managing the demand for travel and delivering key projects
Preferred Option 14
Improving Accessibility, Managing Demand for Travel and Delivering Key Projects
Development which singly or in combination might have a significant impact on the movement of people should positively manage travel demand and contribute to the improvement of accessibility in general, particularly by walking, cycling and public transport. Proposals should demonstrate compliance with short to medium term transport infrastructure projects programmed in the current Local Transport Plan which include:
-
Improving access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, including the provision of a new airport link road and support for measures to maintain and increase the proportion of passengers arriving and departing the airport by public transport;
-
Improving access to the Ports of Liverpool and Garston, including rail freight access including the reinstatement of the “Olive Mount Chord” between the City Line and the Bootle Branch;
-
Improvements in the City Centre (e.g. car and coach parking and delivering improved air quality);
-
Strategic road schemes and facilities for park and ride; and
-
Protecting Merseytram Line One and longer term objectives relating to the development of the Merseytram network.
Beyond 2011 there is likely to be demand for additional transport infrastructure to meet the needs of new residents and development in key locations identified in the Spatial Strategy particularly in the Inner Areas to support economic growth in the City Centre, Atlantic Gateway SIA and HMR areas. Potential projects which new development should take into account or should support include:
-
Reopening the Bootle Branch line - reinstating rail links to Canada Dock allowing freight access from the Port of Liverpool, and potential new stations at Anfield, Tuebrook and Edge Lane;
-
Potential new stations on the City Line (Wavertree) and Northern Line (Vauxhall, and Parliament Street;.
-
Expanding the passenger rail network - including reinstatement of the “Wapping Tunnel” to relieve congestion and capacity issues at Liverpool Central station, and the “Waterloo Tunnel” to provide an additional link to the Northern Line; and
-
The development of the Merseytram Network, to fill the gap in the heavy rail network and improve accessibility across Liverpool and Merseyside
Rejected options:
-
Not proactively identifying, supporting or protecting specific Local Transport Plan infrastructure projects
Reasons for Choice
5.95 The Preferred Option has been chosen on the basis that it conforms with, and will help deliver, the Local Transport Plan. As the current LTP expires in 2011 this Preferred Option also takes a longer term view of the likely future transport needs of the City and provides an indicative approach to infrastructure requirements beyond this point particularly where they may be required to deliver and facilitate regeneration by 2024. This approach is also preferable as it is consistent with regional policy and with the ‘The Strategic Objectives’ of building strong communities and maximising accessibility. It also received strong support from consultees. Merseytram Line One is protected through Transport and Works Act Order powers which are extant until February 2010.
5.96 The rejected option would, in contrast, be detrimental to creating a more sustainable pattern of movement and access in Liverpool, would be damaging to the achievement of the Vision and Objectives of the Core Strategy and was not supported by the Sustainability Appraisal.