Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan
Influencing the Demand for Travel and Travel Choices
11.49 The management of the demand for road space and car parking, together with influencing travel choices, is fundamental to achieving the Vision for sustainable communities, environmental transformation and economic prosperity and to delivering Spatial Objectives 1, 2, 8, 16 and 18.
Policy STR6 – Influencing the Demand for Travel and Travel Choices
- Sandwell is committed to considering all aspects of traffic management in the centres and wider area in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2004. The priorities for traffic management in Sandwell are:
- identifying appropriate strategic park and ride sites on current public transport routes to ease traffic flows into centres;
- working together with the rest of the region to manage region-wide traffic flows through the West Midlands Regional Traffic Control Centre and further joint working;
- implementing demand management measures to restrain car usage and managing car parking demand, thereby encouraging behaviour change and increasing travel by sustainable modes of transport;
- providing better accessibility to shared transport services such as demand responsive transport services and mobility hubs, reducing the need to travel long distances by car or helping people to travel by more sustainable modes of transport;
- maximising access to high-speed broadband / digital infrastructure will be required to enable smarter working for those that are able to do so, thus further reducing the need to travel.
Justification
11.50 The SLP Development Strategy aims at making the network of town and city centres as attractive and accessible as possible, to encourage use of the most sustainable modes of travel.
11.51 Other important aspects of demand management are the prioritisation of allocation of road space towards sustainable methods of travel such as walking, cycling and buses by using schemes such as traffic calming measures and full or time limited pedestrianisation so making these modes more attractive to people visiting the centres.
11.52 Other important elements include the promotion and marketing of sustainable transport through travel plans (Policy STR3), planning conditions / obligations and other associated sustainable mobility initiatives, including the promotion of schemes and opportunities for walking, cycling, micro-mobility (such as e-scooters), public transport and car sharing. These policies will reduce road traffic congestion and pollution, improve road safety, promote social inclusion and accessibility, therefore encouraging consumers to access the four strategic centres using sustainable transport.