CPRE’s approach is to advocate containing further growth of road traffic by careful planning of new development and to encourage greater use of public transport where this is economically feasible. A growing population and increasing affluence has created a rising demand for personal travel and consumer goods. In Gloucestershire the M5, the A417, the A40, the A429 and the A48 have seen greatly increased traffic volumes and congestion is an issue. But the fastest growth in traffic has been on minor rural roads. While the recession and high fuel prices resulted in traffic volumes stabilising, volumes are anticipated to rise again as economic conditions continue to improve.
Greater accessibility has also created other problems:
- minor improvements to country lanes have damaged their rural character
- vehicle pollutants and traffic noise extend far into rural areas
- speeding traffic has changed the feel of country villages
- fatal car crashes occur most frequently on rural roads
- life has become more isolated for rural households without a car.
For public transport, bus services within the major towns are reasonably satisfactory, but rural services are sparse and require subsidy. The rail network is limited following the Beeching cuts of the 1960s but the remaining services have been improved and are used increasingly.
CPRE Gloucestershire’s Approach
We advocate an aim to limit road traffic growth as far as possible and the need for new and widened roads by ensuring that new development – such as housing and employment – is located to minimise the need to travel, and that major development is readily accessible by foot, cycle and public transport.
We will encourage local authorities, public transport operators and the Highways Agency to implement a range of policies to achieve this aim. These are summarised in the in depth page on this topic.
A Transport Toolkit
CPRE has published a helpful web-based Transport Toolkit to inform town and parish councils, unban neighbourhoods, local communities and individuals of action which might be taken to improve local travel. The web address is www.transporttoolkit.org.uk
