Challenges for Local Transport in an Age of Austerity

The RTPI and Transport Planning Society Transport Planning Network Advisory Group has published a major report on the challenges facing local transport in an age of austerity. This details the outcomes of series of debates held in the Autumn of last year. Steer Davies Gleave is delighted to have played host to the seminars, and to sponsor the publication of the report.

Last October’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) heralded cuts in public expenditure unprecedented in Britain in the post-war period. Having grown by more than 50% in the past decade, transport investment was always going to be in the firing line, although the Government acknowledged its importance for economic growth. Facing the resulting challenges will require fundamental changes to how we plan and pay for transport. In the coming months, whether working in the public sector, as consultants or operators, or simply as users of the transport system, people will be working through their responses to the changing regulatory, economic and financial landscape heralded by the CSR and the other Government announcements that have preceded and accompanied it.

Therefore, as a prelude to the CSR announcement, the RTPI and TPS organised a series of seminars/debates on key aspects of the new transport planning agenda, which were held at Steer Davies Gleave’s London headquarters.

The intention was to allow transport professionals and others to hear the views of respected experts and add their own voices to the debate. To this end, the Network secured a line-up of well-known names in the field. Elaine Seagriff, from Transport for London, spoke on TfL’s Strategic Assessment Framework as a means of setting priorities, while Kris Beuret OBE of Social Research Associates talked about the role engagement may play in deciding where the cuts should fall. Paul Mathieson, from Southend Council, discussed how important low-cost measures such as cycling support can be in the local context, and Alan Wenban-Smith, of Urban and Regional Policy and visiting professor of planning at Birmingham City University, set out his views on the crisis in transport appraisal. Finally, Dave Humby from Hertfordshire County Council spoke about the merits of developing the evidence base for action at lower cost. In each case, senior representatives from Steer Davies Gleave, were on hand to provide a counterpoint to the views put forward. This was followed by some lively discussion and contributions from the floor.

The report captures the debates and discussions that occurred at the seminars and can be shared with other professionals and interested parties. The Network hopes that people find some ideas and inspiration to draw from in tackling the challenging times ahead.