Road Traffic (Hansard, 30 November 2000)

§ Mr. Hill

As part of their full local transport plans submitted in July 2000, local traffic authorities in England (outside London) submitted road traffic reduction reports as required by the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A number of authorities, shown in italics in the table, submitted plans containing targets for the overall level of road traffic for their area. Others set targets for part of their area or for some types of traffic.

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Authority	Target
Bath & North East Somerset	In Bath, to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in the average 1990–99 traffic flow levels by 2006. In Keynsham, to constrain traffic growth to the current 1.5 per cent. per annum on the four radia routes. In North Radstock, to keep traffic growth at the current level of 1 per cent. per annum. On the inter-urban corridors to reduce the average growth in all vehicle traffic to 0.5 per cent. per annum for the five year to 2006.
Bedfordshire	Decrease travel to work by car from 71 per cent. in 1991 to 58 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work by public transport from 11 per cent. in 1991 to 15 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work on foot from 12 per cent. in 1991 to 15 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work by cycle from 4 per cent. in 1991 to 10 per cent. in 2011.
Blackburn	Reduce annual peak hour traffic growth to zero by 2006. Contain off-peak hour traffic growth to zero by 2006. Contain off-peak traffic growth to local low growth levels.
Blackpool	A reduction in traffic growth from the predicted 7.4 per cent. to 14 per cent. for 2000–06 to 1 per cent. to 5 per cent.
Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch¹	Reduce the rate of growth of traffic on roads by 50 per cent. by 2006 and zero thereafter.
Bracknell Forest	To limit the growth of road traffic in the Borough in the morning peak period to 14 per cent. above the 1996 level by 2006.
Brighton & Hove	Stabilise the level of car traffic entering and leaving the central area of Brighton and Hove, based on 1996 traffic levels, by 2006, and reduce those levels by 5 per cent. by 2011.
Bristol	Reduce growth in private car traffic by 20 per cent. by 2005 and thereafter to seek a 20 per cent. reduction by 2015.
Buckinghamshire	To reduce the proportion of journey to work trips made by car by 3 per cent. In urban areas, growth rate target set at half the base growth rate. In rural areas, to reduce the volume of HGV traffic on the strategic highway network by 5 per cent. by 2006.
Cambridgeshire	Reduce traffic by 1.3 per cent. per annum in the central area of Cambridge by 2006. Stabilise traffic levels on Cambridge radial routes.
Cheshire	Restrain traffic growth to 15 per cent. by 2011.
City of York	Limit overall growth in traffic to 4 per cent. (1999–2006) with a reduction of 13 per cent. on secondary and residential roads.
Cumbria	In Carlisle, Zero traffic growth overall from 2000–05. In Kendall, to reduce current traffic levels by 20 per cent. in 2005. In Lake District, zero traffic growth by 2005.
Darlington	Limit road traffic approaching the urban area in 2006 to 7.5 per cent. higher than in 2000. Limit road traffic approaching Darlington town centre in 2006 to 4 per cent. higher than in 2006.
Derby City²	To stem the rate of traffic growth completely across the city centre cordon with total peak hour traffic volumes in 2005–06 no greater that those in 2000–01. To stem the rate of traffic growth across the urban area cordon to at least 1 per cent. below NRTF central growth forecasts by 2006.
Derbyshire	Increasing the number of bus journeys to at least 50 million per annum within five years. An increase of 20 per cent. in the number of employees cycling to work where employers have adopted cycling as part of their Travel Plan by 2005–06. An increase of 25 per cent. in the number of secondary school pupils cycling to school where schools have adopted cycling as part of school Travel Plan. A reduction of 6 per cent. in the number of single occupancy car journeys to work within two years of an employer adopting a Travel Plan. Increase the percentage of primary school pupils travelling to school by non-car modes by 5 per cent. by 2005–06.
Dorset	For Weymouth, Portland and Chickerall, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 30 per cent. by 2016 (compared to 1996). For Dorchester, Bridport, Sherbourne and North Dorset, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. (compared to 1996) by 2006 and 20 per cent. by 2016. For Wimbourne, Purbeck, Ferndown, Verwood, West Moors, Colehill and Corfe Mullen, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 25 per cent. by 2016 (compared to 1996). Reduce congestion in rural areas by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 20 per cent. in 2016.
Durham	Reduce the forecast growth of traffic from 1.5 per cent. to 0.33 per cent. per annum throughout the plan period.
East Riding	To maintain 2000–01 traffic levels in Beverley town centre. To maintain 2000–01 traffic levels in Goole town centre. To reduce 1997 traffic levels in Bridlington town centre by 10 per cent. by 2004.

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Authority	Target
East Sussex	Traffic growth in Eastbourne not to exceed 23 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Bexhill and Hastings not to exceed 14 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Lewes package not to exceed 8 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Newhaven package area not to exceed 8 per cent. between 1998 and 2006.
Essex	To reduce the rate of growth in traffic (vehicle kilometres) based on 1998 traffic levels to 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. (main urban areas), 0 per cent. to 5 per cent. (inter urban areas) and 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. (other areas).
Gloucestershire	By 2010, average daily traffic volumes to increase by no more than 20 per cent. compared with 1996 levels. By 2006 the increase over 1996 to be no more than 15 per cent.
Greater Manchester³	Annual car traffic on A and B Roads to grow by no more than 8 per cent. by 2006 and 10 per cent. by 2011. No growth in peak hour car trips in the regional centres. Reduction of traffic between 2006 and 2011 of 5 per cent. in key centres.
Hampshire	To halve the rate of growth in traffic by 2020.
Hartlepool	Limit overall traffic growth to less than 5 per cent. between 2000 and 2005.
Herefordshire	To restrict the growth in traffic levels in Hereford to 1 per cent. per annum during the period 2001 to 2010.
Hertfordshire	Reduce the percentage of road based journeys made by car in 2011 to 61 per cent. from 68.4 per cent. (Cheshunt/Waltham Cross), 60.7 per cent. from 69.9 per cent. (Hemel Hempstead), 59.8 per cent. from 67 per cent. (Bishop's Stortford), 51.5 per cent. from 63.8 per cent. (Hitchin), 51.2 per cent. from 60.7 per cent. (Borehamwood) and 56.4 per cent. from 62.9 per cent. (Harpenden).
Isle of Wight	To limit the growth of traffic to an average of 1 per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10 on roads in the North East Triangle Strategy Area. To limit the growth of traffic during the months of June, July and August to an average of 1 per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10 on roads in the Coastal Resorts Strategy Area. To limit the growth of traffic on classified roads in the Rural Strategy Area to an average of 1½ per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10. To achieve no growth in traffic flows on unclassified roads in the Rural Strategy Area over the period 2000–10.
Kent	1 per cent. reduction in traffic growth by 2005.
Kingston upon Hull	To reduce the percentage of car modal split for journeys to work and increase that of other modes.
Lancashire	Traffic growth during the plan period to he below 5 per cent.
Leicester City⁴	A 4 per cent. reduction in car trips to the City Centre in the morning peak by 2006.
Lincolnshire	To constrain the growth in peak hour traffic in Gainsborough, Louth, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford to 5 per cent. between 2000 and 2006. To constrain peak hour traffic congestion in Greater Lincoln, Grantham, Boston and Skegness (in the summer season) to 2000 levels by 2006.
Medway	To control the growth in car traffic to Chatham city centre by 1.5 per cent. below average predicted growth forecast by 2006 during the day.
Merseyside⁵	Total traffic growth not to exceed 20.8 per cent. in 2006 and 29.2 per cent. in 2011. Car traffic growth not to exceed 21.2 per cent. in 2006 and 29.2 per cent. in 2011.
Middlesbrough	Reduce Annual Average Daily Flows to 0 per cent. growth at the town centre cordon by 2005 and 2 per cent. by 2010. Reduce peak hour flows to 0 per cent. growth at the town centre cordon by 2005 and 2 per cent. by 2010.
Milton Keynes	To reduce car use for the journey to work from 77 per cent. (1997) to 62 per cent. by 2006 and to 55 per cent. by 2011.
Norfolk	Norwich Inner Ring Road cordon crossing traffic levels to be no higher than 1995 levels in 2006. Growth in traffic crossing the Norwich Outer Ring Road cordon to be less than 10 per cent. between 1995 and 2006. Growth in traffic crossing the King's Lynn town cordon to be no more than the NRTF central growth estimate by 2006. Growth in the traffic crossing the Great Yarmouth town cordon to be no greater than the NRTF central growth estimate by 2006.
Northamptonshire	No growth in morning inbound peak hour car vehicle flows (from 1999 level) on the radial routes in Northampton. Car vehicle traffic growth is no greater than 1 in 15 (the 1999 base level) in the urban areas (other than in Northampton) by 2005 (NRTF low growth forecast).
North Lincolnshire	To keep overall traffic growth to an average of 2.2 per cent. or less for the next five years.

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Authority	Target
North Somerset	In Weston-Super-Mare, a 19 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 34 per cent. by 2011. In Clevedon, a 26 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 40 per cent. by 2011. In Portishead, a 52 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 69 per cent. by 2011. In Nailsea, a 14 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 21 per cent. by 2011.
North Yorkshire	To achieve zero growth in Harrogate and Scarborough town centres from 2000. To limit traffic growth in the North York Moors National Park to at least 1 per cent. below average national traffic growth. To limit traffic growth in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to at least 2 per cent. below average national traffic growth. To reduce traffic flow on the A19 through Selby by 30 per cent. on the opening of the Selby bypass and restrain growth from that time not to exceed national low growth forecasts.
Nottingham City⁶	Limit traffic growth in the morning peak from 1991 to 2006 to 2 per cent. Restore traffic levels in the morning peak at 2011 to 1991 levels.
Nottinghamshire	Limit traffic growth in West Nottinghamshire to 9 per cent. by 2011 based on 1999 levels. Limit traffic growth in rural area to 16 per cent. by 2011 based on 1999 levels.
Oxfordshire	To reduce traffic growth in the period 2000–15 to half the forecast growth for Oxfordshire.
Peterborough	Private car traffic in the central area to be held below local traffic forecasts for the next five years. By 2015 to reduce the levels of private cars in the central area of the city to 2000 levels.
Plymouth	Maintain morning peak traffic volumes at 2000 levels at City Centre Cordon.
Portsmouth	To secure no growth for private vehicles (cars and vans) into the core area during the morning peak period by 2006, relative to 1999.
Reading	Reduce car trips to Reading town centre by 0 per cent to 3.5 per cent. by 2005. To increase public transport trips to the town centre by 25 per cent. to 35 per cent. by 2005. To increase cycle trips to the town centre by 50 per cent. to 60 per cent. by 2005. To increase walking trips to the town centre by 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. by 2005.
Shropshire	To reduce cars entering Shrewsbury town centre by 5 per cent. by 2005. To limit traffic growth to 1 per cent. or less per annum on all roads (outside the town centre) in the Shrewsbury area. To limit traffic growth to 2 per cent. or less on inter urban roads until 2005 and to 1 per cent. or less thereafter.
Slough	Zero growth in traffic in the morning and evening weekday peak hours and growth in daily traffic flows which are no more than those which have been observed over the last five years.
Southampton	Reduce the proportion of car use at peak periods on the main routes to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 71 per cent. to 65 per cent. by 2005 and 60 per cent. by 2010. Increase the proportion of peak period public transport trips to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 26 per cent. to 30 per cent. by 2005 and 33 per cent. by 2010. Increase the proportion of off-peak public transport trips to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 21 per cent. to 25 per cent. by 2005 and 28 per cent. by 2010. Increase cycle use from the average 1994–96 levels of 1.6 per cent. to 4 per cent. by 2005 and to 7 per cent. by 2010.
Somerset	To reduce the forecast peak hour car traffic growth in Taunton and Yeovil by 50 per cent. and in Bridgwater by 40 per cent. For A and B roads, to reduce traffic growth by 5 per cent. for the period 1996–2011.
Southend-on-Sea	Traffic growth less than forecast growth of 11 per cent. by 2006.
South Gloucestershire	Limit traffic growth 2001–06 to 6 per cent. overall and reduce traffic growth to 0 per cent. per annum by 2010.
South Yorkshire⁷	Contain traffic at 1999 levels by 2006.
Stockton-on-Tees	Limit traffic growth to low growth figure of 4.5 per cent. (2000–05).
Stoke on Trent	The overall rate of traffic growth in Stoke on Trent (excluding trunk roads) to be constrained to an increase of only 10 per cent. between 1999 and 2011 in comparison with the 1997 low growth NRTF projected increase of 15 per cent. over the same period.
Suffolk	In Ipswich, by 2006 to have stabilised traffic flows and congestion at 1999 levels. In South Lowestoft, to reduce the annual growth rate in car traffic to zero per cent.
Surrey	To limit road traffic levels on county roads to 8 per cent. growth by 2006, 10 per cent. by 2011 and zero growth above the 1998 level by 2016 with a reduction thereafter.
Swindon	To slow the forecast rate of traffic growth in the morning peak by 16 per cent. between 1999 and 2006 and 39 per cent. between 1999 and 2011.

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Authority	Target
Telford & Wrekin	Reduce traffic growth to 1.6 per cent. per annum by 2010.
Thurrock	Reduce traffic levels in central urban areas by 5 per cent. by the year 2011, relative to unconstrained traffic levels. Reduce traffic levels in other non-central areas by 2.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. by 2011, relative to unconstrained traffic levels.
Tyne and Wear⁸	Limit total vehicle kilometres on principal roads in 2006 to 2.524 billion, compared to 2.274 billion in 1996–97.
Warrington	A 68 per cent. and 43 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth to 2006 and 2011.
Warwickshire	Avoid congestion increasing journey times on the local highway network by more than half between 1999 and 2011. Reduce the proportion of school journeys undertaken by car from 37 per cent. in 1999 to 33 per cent. by 2006 and 24 per cent. by 2011.
West Berkshire	To limit traffic increases to NRTF low growth forecast in the Newbury/Thatcham area for 1999–2006. To limit traffic increases to mid growth forecasts in rural areas for 1999–2006.
West Midlands⁹	To contain the growth in traffic between 1996 and 2006 to between 10 per cent. and 13.5 per cent. for a 24 hour weekday.
West Sussex	Reduce vehicle kilometres driven in within a 12 hour weekday period by: 2.5 per cent. (2006), 7.5 per cent. (2011) and 15 per cent. (2016) in the Coastal Towns. 5 per cent. (2006), 10 per cent. (2011) and 15 per cent. (2016) in the Central Towns. 5 per cent. (2006), 2.5 per cent. (2011) and 10 per cent. (2016) in Rural Areas.
West Yorkshire¹⁰	Traffic growth not to exceed 5 per cent. by 2006.
Wiltshire	In Western Wiltshire, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 22 per cent. to 10 per cent. In Salisbury, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent. In Devizes, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 27 per cent. to 17 per cent. In the remainder of Wiltshire, all other routes to be constrained to NRTF low growth.
Windsor & Maidenhead	In Maidenhead, traffic growth to increase by no more than 6 per cent. by 2006 from 1999. In Windsor, traffic growth to increase by no more than 6 per cent. by 2006 from 1999. In other areas, traffic to increase by no more than 10 per cent. by 2006, based on vehicle kilometres.
Wokingham	To restrain traffic growth in the northern part of the district to 3 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in the central part of the district to no more than NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in Wokingham town centre to 2.5 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in the Reading Urban Area part of the district to 2.5 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To ensure that traffic growth in the southern part of the district does not exceed 1.5 per cent. of NRTF by the year 2006. To constrain car travel growth by residents to existing levels.
¹A joint plan for the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area.
²A joint plan with Derbyshire County Council.
³A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
⁴A joint plan with Leicestershire County Council.
⁵A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Liverpool, Knowsley, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral.
⁶A joint plan with Nottinghamshire County Council.
⁷A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting the following the traffic authorities: Sheffield, Rotherham. Barnsley and Doncaster.
⁸A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Gateshead, Newcastle, N. Tyneside, S. Tyneside and Sunderland.
⁹A joint plans for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
¹⁰A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford and Wakefield.

Source

NRTF—Department of Transport National Road Traffic Forecasts 1997