Hampshire County Council's Local Transport Plan
The Local Transport Plan (LTP) covers the period from 2006 to 2011, setting out the County Council’s transport strategy for the next five years. The strategy is rooted in a thorough examination of current and future problems and opportunities. It is also firmly set within the context of emerging regional and national policies.
The overall vision for the LTP is of a transport strategy that: “Enhances quality of life and economic prosperity by connecting people, communities, employment, goods, services and amenities”.
This overarching vision is derived from the policies and aspirations of a large number of bodies, including: Hampshire County Council’s Corporate Strategy; eleven district councils; the Hampshire Strategic Partnership; District Local Strategic Partnerships within Hampshire; Neighbouring authorities; the emerging Regional Transport Strategy, Regional Spatial Strategy; Regional Economic Strategy and Government policy documents; the Hampshire Economic Partnership; ongoing consultation exercises with Hampshire residents and key organisations
The main objectives of the LTP are:
- To increase accessibility
- To promote safety
- To reduce the impact and effect of congestion
- To widen travel choice
- To improve air quality
- To support wider quality of life objectives
- To encourage value for money and efficient asset management
These objectives will be achieved by a balanced strategy that seeks to meet the needs of all residents. The strategy includes measures to tackle existing and future problems. It aims to improve all modes of transport to provide a wider choice for the public. It balances the need to protect the environment with the need for mobility.
The core philosophy of the LTP is that transport problems should be addressed by a process to reduce, manage and invest. Wherever possible, problems should be tackled or reduced at source - for example, tackling congestion by reducing the need for unnecessary journeys. If this approach is not sufficient on its own, transport should be improved by managing the existing networks to make best use of current road and public transport infrastructure. If neither of these approaches fully address the problems then investment may additionally be needed to provide new services or infrastructure.
Relationship to Minerals and Waste Planning
Minerals and Waste Policy integrates with the LTP in a number of ways, including the sustainability appraisal stage of the LTP and the Minerals and Waste Development Documents and at the selection stage of potential Minerals and Waste sites.
In the case of the latter, the LTP defines the Strategic Road Network (SRN), the roads in the County most suited to carrying the lorry traffic that services many minerals and waste sites. One of the criteria on which potential sites are assessed is their location in relation to the SRN.