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LDF Core Strategy HIA - Screening and Scoping5 . Scoping the Core Strategy specific “Policies”For example improving access to education needs to be acore element of the Remaking Learning initiative within theSCS. The vision to transform all learning provision can onlybe successful if all residents can access the services.3. Do the policies reducehealth inequalities?In Barnsley, there are 36,000 people of working age who areeconomically inactive. This policy has the opportunity to focusa wide range of future policy which will encourage greateremployment and educational opportunities and consequentlyreduce poverty and improve health through the introductionof the Accessibility Improvement Zone and the facilitation ofsustainable transport links between the Principal Towns thispolicy will encourage active travel on a much wider scalethan previously experienced in the borough. Furthermorethe improvements to public transport links between Barnsleyand the City Regions, London, Manchester and the Humberports has the potential to encourage greater use of the railnetwork for both passengers and freight. This movementaway from the car as the natural form of transport to reachthe regional centres is likely to result in benefits in terms ofair pollution and consequently health. An example of thepotential of this policy in terms of improving connectivity isthe success of the Leeds to Sheffield fast rail service. As aresult of considerable passenger growth the service has nowbeen doubled in frequency and many journeys now linkBarnsley direct to the East Midlands region, A considerableproportion of passengers using this service previously droveby car into Leeds, Wakefield, Nottingham and Sheffield.In areas of the borough such as Grimethorpe and Thurnscoewith high levels of the population receiving benefits goodstrategic links to employment in the borough and within theLeeds and Sheffield City Regions are essential for long termeconomic growth, access to employment and to reducedhealth inequalities. Consequently this policy provides aframework for long term accessibility improvements in aborough left with a legacy of local industry providing localemployment as mentioned in the Core Strategy The actualhealth benefits of the Accessibility Improvement Zone needcareful monitoring to provide a robust evidence base for thepossible expansion of the zone and/or the zone replicatedelsewhere in the borough over the longer term. The individualstudies should consider the health benefits of the finalrecommendations with clear links to health targets such asObesity, Diabetes, substance abuse and mental health.AMBER30