Climate change action plan 2021-23

engines on items such as strimmers, chainsaws and
hedge trimmers across its grounds maintenance activities.
These have well received by operators as they have
significantly lower levels of noise and vibration as well
as reducing emissions substantially. Two stroke engines
are some of the worst polluters in terms of air quality
so replacing these types of machine is a priority for
the Council.
Broader Context - North East Transport
Plan, Transport North East
Transport North East have recently published the draft
‘North East Transport Plan, 2021-2035 26 . This is the
first region-wide transport plan for the seven local
authority areas in the north east: Durham, Gateshead,
Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South
Tyneside and Sunderland. This plan sets out the transport
priorities for the region up to 2035. The plan is currently
undergoing public consultation. A finalised version of
the plan will be published in 2021.
The vision of the draft North East Transport Plan is
“moving to a green, healthy dynamic and thriving
North East”.
The plan has five key objectives, including creating a
“carbon neutral North East” and delivering “appealing
sustainable public transport choices”.
There are several climate-relevant key performance
indicators of the plan, including: increase the sustainable
transport mode share; increase the accessibility of
public transport; improve greener journeys by reducing
carbon output per capita; increase the uptake of
ULEVs; and improve air quality.
The plan has funding asks of Government and its partners
for £200 million each year for transport and digital
funding for the region’s COVID-19 recovery and a
multi-year settlement of £6.1 billion to commence
delivery of the programme. The Council will work with
Transport North East to allocate a fair share of any
allocated funding to Northumberland for net zero
transport projects.
The draft North East Transport Plan includes the
following relevant policy statements:
“We will help people make greener and healthier
travel choices whenever they can and make sure
our sustainable network takes everyone where
they need to go, at a price they can afford”
“We will help more people use active travel by
making the cycle network better across the North
East. This will include being flexible in how we
use road space to help cyclists and pedestrians”
“We will initiate actions to make travel in the
North East net carbon zero and improve transport
safety and security”
“We will improve bus travel and attract more
passengers with new rapid bus corridors. This will
include changing how road space is used to help
buses move more quickly”
“We will strengthen use of cleaner, greener cars,
vans and lorries”
“We will invest in Metro and local rail to extend
and improve the network”
Northumberland County Council shares the draft
North East Transport Plan’s net zero transport vision,
objectives and KPIs and will work with regional
partners to help achieve these. The Council will work
with Transport North East around the above policy
statements, to deliver as many net zero outcomes for
Northumberland as possible.
Alongside the North East Transport Plan, Transport
North East will also be publishing a bus strategy, local
rail strategy, active travel strategy and road and electric
vehicle infrastructure strategy between 2021-2023.
The Council will work alongside Transport North East
and regional partners to shape these strategies for a
carbon-neutral regional transport system.
26
https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2020/11/Full-Transport-Plan.pdf
Climate Change Action Plan 2021-23 43