RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

46
Section 7 Regional Transport
approach to freight movement of Policy T10. Port developers should contribute to the delivery of improvements, and all
development associated with the region’s ports avoid any adverse impact on sites of European or international
importance for wildlife.
POLICY T12: Access to Airports
Access to the region’s airports should be managed and enhanced to support development and enable them to
contribute to national and regional objectives for economic growth and regeneration, consistent with the provisions
of Policy E7. A key priority is to ensure airport surface access provision reinforces the shift to the more sustainable
travel sought by the RTS.
7.30 The Air Transport White Paper sets the national policy framework for airports. The RSS does not have a role in determining
the rate of air traffic growth or runway provision.
7.31 Proposals for airport expansion should take account of the improvements required to serve that expansion. The approach
to surface access should reflect the wider aims of the RTS, in particular changing travel behaviour and increasing the
proportion of passengers and workers travelling by public transport and other sustainable modes. Airport developers will
be expected to pay the costs of surface access improvements where they are needed to cope with additional passengers
and freight travelling to and from expanded airports and there are no wider beneficiaries.
7.32 Both Stansted and Luton Airports are regional transport nodes (the latter as a part of Luton/Dunstable). Their role in this
regard extends beyond that of an international gateway, also providing interchange for movement within the region. The
location and design of rail and bus stations should be an integral part of airport development, enabling easy travel for both
workers and passengers.
POLICY T13: Public Transport Accessibility
Public transport provision, including demand responsive services, should be improved as part of a package of
measures to improve accessibility. Public transport use should be encouraged throughout the region by increasing
accessibility to appropriate levels of service of as high a proportion of households as possible, enabling them to
access core services (education, employment, health and retail).
7.33 Some parts of the region have better, or potential for better, public transport access than others. In many locations public
transport provision is at a low level or non-existent. However, increasing the number of bus or rail services may not be the
most appropriate solution. Whilst the unavailability of services could be the problem, it could be such issues as the high
costs of using services, poor information, and fear of crime when using public transport. In many areas, where social
exclusion is to be tackled, demand responsive services may offer the greatest levels of accessibility to all.
7.34 The importance of the various influences on accessibility varies from area to area and group to group and accessibility
planning requires local authorities, together with their partners, to consider the main accessibility issues and solutions put
in place. Through their Local Transport Plans authorities have been asked to develop accessibility indicators and targets
to identify where services are inadequate in order that local priorities can be identified. Setting minimum accessibility
levels is inappropriate as this may imply putting on additional bus services when they may not be the best way of
addressing local issues.