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Transport Conference
Speakers address climate change
Cllr Peter Millea and Gideon Ben-Tovim, chair of Liverpool PCT, sign the agreement to make Liverpool a cycling city
Creating a cycling city
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IVERPOOL Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Liverpool City Council have signed a formal agreement at Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP)’s annual conference setting out their commitment to increasing cycling levels in the city. The alliance aims to improve quality of life and create a healthy, low-carbon city for the future. The City partners now hope that others will join the alliance so that Merseyside councils and PCTs can work with businesses, universities and cultural and sporting agencies to bring renewed commitment to cycling. Among the first to sign up were delegates at the Merseyside Transport Conference, held at FACT yesterday. The new agreement sets out to generate a 10% increase in trips
made by bike before the end of March, 2011, compared to journeys in 2006. Working together, MTP (through the TravelWise programme), Liverpool PCT and Liverpool City Council aim to secure support from more than 100 organisations over the remainder of Year of the Environment and during the city’s Year of Health and Wellbeing 2010. Gideon Ben-Tovim believes that increasing cycling rates has great potential to help improve the city’s health and fitness levels. He said: “Liverpool’s rates of obesity are higher than the UK average and rising car usage is a major factor in reducing physical activity. We believe our commitment to Liverpool Cycle City is a key element in helping to improve our city’s health and wellbeing. “Living an active lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to reduce
obesity and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It’s clear that, by encouraging more cycling, which can be one of the easiest forms of physical activity to incorporate into our everyday lives, we can help people to stay fit and healthy.” Cllr Peter Millea stressed that cycling can help create a greener and healthier city. He said: “This agreement enables us to pool our resources, enabling investment to work on a number of levels, which will jointly benefit the city’s health and wellbeing, help tackle congestion and help improve our environment. “The City Council is already investing in our cycling infrastructure and Liverpool PCT and MTP both work very hard to promote cycling. However, if we are serious about creating a true cycling culture, the sort that has brought huge benefits to other European cities, we
really do need to work together. And what better time to launch this initiative, as we celebrate the final months of Year of the Environment and look ahead to the Year of Health and Wellbeing 2010?” He added: “Reducing the number of car journeys is crucial to cutting congestion and making roads safer for everyone. The region’s TravelWise campaign is centred on persuading people out of their cars in favour of cycling, walking or catching the bus. “Cycling is not only one of the healthiest ways to travel, it is also the greenest and one of the quickest and most accessible modes of transport around. Almost 70% of trips are less than 5km long; if more of these short trips were made by bike, I am confident we would see healthier people and a more attractive city, with less congestion on our roads and improved air quality.”
THIS year’s Merseyside Transport Conference also focused on how the new Liverpool City Region can maximise transport planning to deliver a low carbon future for the region. As well as celebrating the Merseyside Transport Partnership’s (MTP) continuing achievements in delivering a safe and sustainable transport network, discussion and debate centred around how the region needs to adapt in response to major issues such as climate change and diminishing oil resources, and how doing so can boost the economy and health of the area. In recognition of Liverpool City Council’s Year of the Environment, the event was chaired by the council’s assistant executive director for environment, Jan Rowley. Fiona Wilford, of the Department for Transport, was the keynote speaker – she talked about how the Government intends to lead a national strategy to reduce the carbon impact of transport and help measures to address climate change. She also emphasised the critical role of transport in securing strong economic growth and increased employment. Professor John Whitelegg continued his theme from last year’s conference and set out how successful modern cities have managed to reconcile these different demands. Helping reduce Merseyside’s carbon impact will also benefit the health of the region’s communities, by promoting cycling and walking as efficient ways of moving around. Andy Hull, of Liverpool PCT, described the work his organisation is doing to link transport and health issues. He was joined by Jeremy Legget, chair of the UK Industry Task Force on Peak Oil, who spoke on the problems we face if oil starts to run out, via a video link. Neil Scales, chair of MTP, updated delegates on progress on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and discussed planning for the future, including the start of planning for the new Liverpool City Region’s Local Transport Plan – LTP3. The conference also included the Merseyside Transport Awards ceremony. ■ TO FIND out more about the conference and see copies of the speakers’ presentations, you can visit www. transportmerseyside.org
DAILY POST Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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Facts and stats YESTERDAY’S Merseyside Transport Conference also saw the launch of the latest edition of Travel in Merseyside – an annual compendium of transport trends and statistics across Merseyside. Accompanying the ongoing work of the Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP), the document pulls together information from a variety of sources to provide key summary information on transport use in Merseyside, together with some of the background factors which affect demand and usage. The 2009 edition of Travel in Merseyside shows: ■ IN 2008, average car ownership per person in Merseyside was 0.41, representing considerable growth in recent years, but still significantly below national levels; ■ TRAFFIC levels in Liverpool city centre increased from the baseline in 2000 to 2004. A decrease was then observed in 2005 and 2006, which was followed by an increase from 2006 to 2007, but traffic levels decreased in 2008 and 2009; ■ THERE has been an increase in bus patronage between 2007/08 and 2008/09 in Merseyside of 0.7%, which is the first increase since 2001/02. Overall, between 2001/02 and 2008/09, bus patronage has decreased by 13%; ■ LOCAL rail patronage has continued to increase, up from 38.4m passenger trips in 2007/08 to 39.1m passenger trips in 2008/09. This represents an 18% increase between 2001/02 and 2008/09; ■ TRAVEL to school data has shown that the majority of trips to school in Merseyside are by walking (46.3%), followed by car (30.4%) and public transport (18.4%); ■ LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport had the fourth highest passenger growth in the UK from 2002 to 2007. Since 2007, there has been a decline in growth at many airports within the UK, including Liverpool John Lennon Airport. From 2002 to 2008, Liverpool John Lennon Airport had the fifth highest passenger growth in the UK; ■ THE Port of Liverpool has maintained its national ranking between 2006 and 2007 for handling oil and gas, container traffic and other freight. The Port of Liverpool’s ranking decreased from second to third for handling of goods vehicles/trailers during the same period. Travel in Merseyside also sets the socioeconomic background against which these trends are happening. According to the report: ■ MERSEYSIDE’S economic active population decreased in 2008 for the first time since 1999; ■ WEEKLY gross earnings for Merseyside and the North-West have consistently been below that of the England average. Over the last 10 years, the gap between Merseyside and England’s gross weekly earnings increased year on year from 1998, and peaked in 2003 at a figure of £70.20. The gap recorded in 2008 was £61.30, an increase of £2.30 on the 2007 figure; ■ THE Gross Value Added (GVA) per person for Merseyside has increased by 62% from 1996 to 2005 (£8,150 to £13,165), although in comparison to the regional and national average over the same period, it lags behind considerably; ■ REVISED population estimates show Merseyside’s population has continued to decline. Commenting on the latest edition of Travel in Merseyside, Neil Scales, chair of MTP, said: “With a majority of children in Merseyside now walking to school, and increases in both bus and rail patronage over the past year, these figures are indicative of the fantastic work that is taking place to provide a well-connected, safe transport network for Merseyside. “In pulling together transport trends and statistics from across the region, this document will be an invaluable resource both for those working in the industry and for businesses in Merseyside as a whole. “This intelligence will be particularly useful in the coming months as we start work on a new Local Transport Plan for the city region.”
Merseyside shows it is A
N INCREASE in cycling across the region, growing rail passenger numbers, road safety improvements and continued investment in the transport network are among the successes of the third year of Merseyside’s Local Transport Plan (LTP). Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP) presented this year’s Annual Progress Report at its annual conference at FACT yesterday. Consisting of Merseytravel and the five local authorities of Merseyside – Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral – Merseyside’s five-year LTP is the £230m delivery programme of transport investment and service improvements for the region. Running until 2011, it aims to give Merseyside a safe, sustainable, efficient and integrated transport network, accessible to all. This joint transport strategy is key to the economic success, health and quality of the environment in Merseyside, and delegates at yesterday’s conference heard about LTP’s key successes and progress against annual targets. An excellent partnership MTP has twice been awarded Excellent status, both for transport planning and delivery, and its achievements continued during 2008/09. Among the past year’s highlights, MTP secured money from the European Social Fund to continue the highly successful Let’s Get Moving programme, which has helped more than 12,000 people in disadvantaged communities overcome transport barriers to access services and greater opportunities. This pioneering work on accessibility planning means that, along with Halton Borough Council, MTP has
enjoyed the year as a Beacon Partnership. The £7.6m Olive Mount Chord rail scheme – which restored to use a quarter mile stretch of rail track linking the Port of Liverpool to the West Coast Main Line – was opened. The scheme provides increased rail capacity for rail freight to and from the Port, and is offsetting the growth in heavy goods vehicles on the region’s roads. Partners on this project included MTP, Network Rail, Department for Transport, Northwest Regional Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. Two major improvement schemes – the Thornton to Switch Island link, in Sefton, and the Bidston Moss Viaduct maintenance scheme in Wirral – have also been approved by the Government. Cycling numbers have started to increase, as a result of investment in facilities and initiatives such as the TravelWise programme, the Southport Cycle Demonstration Town project and the training of more than 30,000 young people a year since 2006 through the Bikeability cycle training scheme.
Addressing challenges The report did, however, note some areas of concern. Improving access to work by public transport has suffered as peripheral bus services are reduced or withdrawn and funding to subsidise replacements is limited. Access to schools by sustainable modes of transport has also seen a reverse, with car use increasing slightly. There are encouraging signs that bus patronage is beginning to pick up in some areas, but Neil Scales, chair of the Merseyside Transport Partnership, remains cautious. He said: “The bus patronage figure for 2008/09 is up slightly on the previous
year, but it would be premature to view this as a trend. Work between operators, local authorities and Merseytravel within the new Bus Board will be crucial if patronage is to be stabilised or increased.”
The way ahead Delegates at yesterday’s conference also learnt more about plans for MTP’s work to support the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Work on a new local transport plan for the city region will begin shortly. The new joint LTP will cover the six local authorities of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral and will run from April, 2011. Cllr Rob Polhill, chair of the Merseyside Strategic Transport Committee, said: “It’s important that we take a fresh look at transport plans in all the areas to ensure they remain focused on future needs, and that the proposals are the right ones to meet current circumstances. “It’s also critical that the joint local transport plan meets the requirements of the Liverpool City Region’s strategic objectives – and the Local Strategic Partnerships will also have transport demands. “At the same time, we must ensure that regional and national priorities are taken into account while developing the joint plan.” Neil Scales concluded: “On the whole, our annual report shows that we are making good progress in meeting our goals, which are designed to provide access for all, manage demand and provide an efficient, sustainable transport network.” ■ TO LEARN more about Merseyside Transport Partnership’s work to meet the region’s transport needs, or to receive a copy of the Annual Progress Report, email info@transport merseyside.org or visit www. transportmerseyside.org
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Merseyside has one of the highest-rated local train services in the country
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DAILY POST Wednesday, October 14, 2009
heading in the right direction Transport planning key to driving region’s success THE new Liverpool City Region (LCR) must maximise transport planning to deliver a low carbon future for the region, delegates at Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP’s) annual conference heard yesterday. Leading transport academic John Whitelegg, visiting Professor of Sustainable Transport at Liverpool John Moores University, continued his theme from last year’s conference in setting out the links between successful city region economies, low carbon strategies and the role of sustainable transport in supporting a vibrant economy. Professor Whitelegg told delegates that an integrated cityregion structure – as well as a strong commitment to working towards a sustainable transport network – is key if Liverpool is to compete at a world level. Comparing the LCR with the successful city region economies of Barcelona, Rotterdam and Hamburg, Professor Whitelegg also emphasised the importance of SuperPort, stressing that port development strategies must match the commitment to a low carbon economy shown elsewhere. Throughout his report, Professor Whitelegg remained positive about the potential of the LCR, commenting: “There are no reasons at all why Liverpool cannot achieve the level of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita of these three comparator cities, or enjoy the multiple accolades that Hamburg enjoys in terms of low carbon, liveability, job creation and ‘green city’. “All these objectives are well within the reach of the LCR, but require a serious improvement in city region collective thinking and an increase in the powers and responsibilities of city region level governance.”
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DAILY POST Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Honours for transport superstars
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HE winners of the Merseyside Transport Awards were revealed at the Merseyside Transport Conference at FACT
yesterday. Now in their third year, the awards celebrate the individuals, schools and businesses that are actively encouraging people to use more sustainable methods of transport. Jan Rowley, Liverpool City Council’s assistant executive director for environment, presented prizes to the winners of eight award categories – including the TravelWise Award for the best sustainable transport initiative, the TravelWise Award for the best school travel plan, and the FreightWise Award (see case studies below). Neil Scales, chair of the
Merseyside Transport Partnership, said: “All of the entrants deserve congratulations – the quality of this year’s nominations was outstanding. “By encouraging people to change their travel habits and consider options such as using public transport, cycling or walking, these individuals and organisations are supporting the vision of an integrated transport network that is accessible to all and that helps create a better environment for everyone.” The awards and their winners are listed below: TravelWise Award 2009 For the best sustainable transport initiative. Promoting a sustainable transport system in Merseyside by effectively accommodating people’s travel needs and supporting the economy, while helping reduce
congestion and carbon emissions. Winner: Shop Direct Group (Aintree site) TravelWise School Award 2009 For the best school travel plan. Encouraging and supporting the use of alternative methods of transport that positively impact on localised congestion, assist in road safety and also help tackle health and obesity problems. Winner: St Charles’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Liverpool TravelWise Organisation 2009 For the best travel plan. Promoting real alternatives to people who would normally drive, by developing public transport as the smart, convenient and eco-conscious way to travel. Winner: Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
FreightWise Award 2009 For the best freight initiative. Improving the impact of moving goods in Merseyside. Winner: Mersey Maritime BikeWise Award 2009 For the best cycling initiative or achievement. Making cycling a more appealing option – whether by providing access to bikes, offering safe cycling training programmes, opening or improving cycle routes, or providing more cycle parking spaces. Winner: NHS Wirral WalkWise Award 2009 For the best walking initiative or achievement. Promoting better opportunities for people to walk such as a safer environment, more attractive and cleaner footpaths,
TravelWise Award
FreightWise Award
THE transfer of 250 staff from its Crosby to Aintree site had the potential to cause huge parking problems for Shop Direct Group. But the home shopping organisation managed to cut dramatically the number of vehicles arriving on site by introducing a highly successful car share scheme. An area of the car park was designated as car share parking and the scheme also offered financial incentives, with a monthly prize draw for participants. The initiative has been a hit with Shop Direct staff, with almost 120 employees having signed up in the past six months – saving some 290 car journeys a week, or 13,000 a year. Mark Newton-Jones, chief executive at Shop Direct Group, says that he believes the popularity of the car share scheme at its Aintree
MERSEY Maritime is the private-public sector partnership that represents the interests of the ports and logistics sector in Merseyside, including improvements to the movement of freight across the region. Latest projects developed with Mersey Maritime assistance include the development of new training simulators and a web-based system to track the movement of cargo containers – both of which have numerous benefits for the industry, from improving skills and customer service to increasing supply chain efficiencies and cutting the industry’s carbon footprint. Jim Teasdale, chief executive of Mersey Maritime, explained how innovative schemes like these are helping the freight industry and Merseyside as a whole. He said: “These projects
Left to right: Phillip Spick, Travel Plan manager at Shop Direct Group, with car share participants Phil Searon, Dominic McGuiness, Paul Duffy and Jenny Vanspall site has been very encouraging. He said: “As the first UK retailer to join the United Nations Global Compact, we take our responsibilities to the environment very seriously, and so we are delighted to have won the TravelWise Award.” He added: “Our car share
scheme has reduced the number of vehicles coming onto the site, improved parking and encouraged employees to think more carefully about their travel choices, as well as raising awareness of the cost of travel and the impact that congestion can have on air quality.”
Going the Extra Mile Award 2009 Awarded for outstanding customer service by an operator. Rewarding those bodies that went “beyond the call of duty”. Winner: Arriva North West TravelWise Development 2009 For good transport design in a new building/scheme. Supporting regeneration and strengthening the public transport infrastructure by helping people to reach their destination easily, while making a range of transport options available to them. Winner: Victoria Central Health Centre, NHS Wirral
Left to right: James Douglas, Jim Teasdale, David Pendleton, Martha Francis and Annette Parker, all of Mersey Maritime are helping aid sustainable economic development, improving the efficiency and effective use of the existing transport network and enhancing the quality of life for those working in Merseyside. Quay Skills, our simulator training package,
TravelWise School Award ST CHARLES’S Roman Catholic Primary School, in Liverpool, introduced its Walk on Wednesdays (WoW) scheme back in October, 2007. The aim was to cut congestion around the school gates by increasing the number of children who walk to school on a regular basis. Each week, the class with the highest percentage or most improved class of walkers is rewarded with a WoW trophy and money to spend on class outings. The school also takes part in the TravelWise Walk to School initiatives – with more than 70% of pupils walking to school on a Wednesday during this summer’s BIG Walk to School. This year, the school has been encouraging children to cycle to school as well. It has invested in cycle storage facilities through its travel plan, and Year 5 and 6 pupils have taken part in cycle training. Head teacher Chris Davey said: “Pupils and parents have really embraced WoW and are now embedding it into their weekly routine. The recently installed cycle storage is proving very popular, and more cycle training is planned. We also use public transport for school trips. “We feel it is important to continue with this successful scheme to encourage the children to walk to school, establish safe pedestrian behaviour, promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce child obesity.”
easier to access rights of way and more traffic-free zones. Winner: Landlife/National Wildflower Centre, Knowsley
St Charles’s pupils brave the rain to take part in the Walk on Wednesdays scheme
is already transforming the way port operatives are trained and assessed, while ContainerPort, the webbased cargo-tracking system developed by the company of the same name, is now being expanded across the region and farther afield.”