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­­Yousaf’s taskforce calls for active travel delivery reforms

ACTIVE TRAVEL

Andrew Forster
22 June 2018
Yousaf: reviewing report’s recommendations
Yousaf: reviewing report’s recommendations

 

Wide-ranging reforms to the way active travel programmes are funded and delivered in Scotland have been recommended by a taskforce set up by Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf.

Yousaf asked Roy Brannen, the chief executive of Transport Scotland, to chair the task force   to examine ways to deliver ambitious walking and cycling projects. The group’s formation in 2016 followed decisions by two councils to remove a segregated cycle path and halt the delivery of further phases of a route.

The taskforce’s final report makes 18 recommendations. 

National funding for walking and cycling routes should not just come from Transport Scotland but also from other departments “as a preventative spend measure”, it says. “Cross-portfolio policy investment (e.g. from health, transport, environment and education directorates) should prioritise the delivery of a network of continuous and safe walking and cycling infrastructure routes, working in partnership with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders. 

“Increased, continuous, multi-year funding and resources is required, along with simplifying the current bidding processes and conditions”. 

Criteria for match-funding “should be reconsidered” and the range of those organisations able to bid for active travel funding should be widened “to ensure an open, fair and transparent process”. 

Funding for walking, cycling and place-making infrastructure projects should be complemented by funding for behaviour change programmes. 

Long-term maintenance funding for active travel projects should be included as part of Community Links/PLUS projects. 

The Scottish Government should develop design guidance for  local and trunk roads, and places, says the taskforce, “enabling people of all ages and abilities to access schools, workplaces and community destinations by foot, bike, public transport”.

Efforts should be made to  reduce urban traffic and transfer carriageway space to active travel, including through measures such as workplace parking levies, road user charging and encouraging more car-sharing. 

To facilitate the delivery of schemes, there must be “prominent and consistent national government and stakeholder support to enhance strong leadership at the local level”. 

Professional training in community engagement and consultation and planning, delivering and maintaining active travel projects should be made available as Continuing Professional Development-accredited courses to all public and private sector professionals, including elected members. 

Regional transport partnerships need to be better resourced to address cross-boundary issues. 

The report notes concern that councils are short of staff with the expertise to deliver active travel projects. “The reason for the loss in staff and skills was not explicit, however there were suggestions that active travel, as part of the transport budget, is not viewed as a priority area within all local authorities, and that when difficult budget decisions have to be made, education and social care are prioritised.” 

A copy of the report is being sent to every local authority elected member and chief executive, as well as the chairs of Regional Transport Partnerships, chief executives of health boards, chairs of Community Planning Partnerships and other relevant bodies. 

Scotland’s yet to be appointed Active Nation Commissioner will be expected to champion the report. Yousaf will also invite councillors to a roundtable discussion on the report’s recommendations.  

The taskforce’s members were: James Fowlie, director of integration and development at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; George Eckton, director of SEStran, the South East Scotland regional transport partnership; Daisy Narayanan, deputy director of Sustrans Scotland; and Derick Murray, director of NEStrans, the North East Scotland regional transport partnership (and representing the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland).

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