HC Deb 13 July 1988 vol 137 cc201-2W
Mr. Gerald Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives have been set for the London assessment studies.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

We developed the following objectives in consultation with the boroughs concerned and their associations.

1. TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY

  1. 1.1 To increase opportunities for all people to gain access to employment, places and services and to improve ease of access to them.3
  2. 1.2 To provide or promote adequate access from the study areas to national transport systems.4

2. TO SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION

2.1 To support policies for employment, economic growth and regeneration particularly for inner city areas.5

3. TO DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

3.1 To encourage greater efficiency in the use of transport in London whilst still allowing freedom of choice.2

Original loans cancelled
Country Date cancellation agreement signed Date of loan Original value Amount waived (principal + interest)
(£ millions) (£ millions)
Mozambique October 1983 1976 5.000 5.000
1977 5.000 5.000
1977 9.315 9.315
1978 2.500 2.500

3.2 To provide or promote transport infrastructure and management which achieves adequate return on investment.6

3.3 To reduce congestion costs to industry and commerce, including public transport.

4. TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT

  1. 4.1 To keep car traffic entering central London to a manageable level.
  2. 4.2 To conserve and improve the quality of the environment.7
  3. 4.3 To provide opportunity for removing traffic, particularly heavy lorries, from unsuitable roads.
  4. 4.4 To provide relief to shopping areas and residential streets.
  5. 4.5 To improve the condition and appearance of existing roads, and to ensure any new infrastructure is designed with sensitivity for the environment.

5. TO ENHANCE SAFETY FOR TRAVELLERS

  1. 5.1 To improve the safety and personal security of all travellers within the transport system.8 9
  2. 5.2 To identify locations with high accident rates and to take action to improve safety.

Note:

1. The studies will develop options designed inter alia to meet these objectives and the views of the public will be taken into acount in reaching decisions on them.

2 It should be noted that these objectives cannot be considered individually, they need to be considered together. For example freedom of choice should not be regarded as an absolute condition and will be assessed as it relates to the other objectives.

3 Regard will be given to the provision of transport, to meet the needs of different groups of travellers and potential travellers and to its contribution to the improvement of opportunities for groups and individuals in the community suffering transport disadvantage.

4 Objective 1.2—'national transport systems' includes those sections in other parts of London. Accessibility will be considered in relation to the Secretary of State's general responsibility for transport.

5 'Policies' includes approved central and local government plans and guidance by the Secretary of State for the Environment, taking into account advice by SERPLAN and LPAC.

6 Provision of infrastructure and management for private and public transport will be assessed on a comparable basis.

7'Environmental factors' include noise, pollution, visual impact, severance, townscape, ecology.

8 'All travellers' include cyclists, pedestrians and users of public transport and private vehicles.

9 Objective 5.1 includes the need to design facilities to minimise the risk of harassment.