How Green are the Reds, Blues and Yellows?

[marian farrell]

www.sustrans.org.uk

In the UK, travel is dominated by car use, resulting in increasing levels of CO2 emissions, congested roads, and high dependency on oil, more and more of which is imported.

Sustrans pored over manifestos, speeches and statements to get good idea of what the three main political parties are proposing for local everyday travel. Transport is always surprisingly low on influencing how people vote, which is odd given that getting about is a crucial part of our everyday lives, and how other people travel has big implications for our communities and quality of living. More and more of the decision making concerning transport is devolved to the nations that make up the UK and to London. However, the over arching trends are set by the UK government.

If you're interested in transport, sustainable or otherwise, here's what you're likely to get if any of the main three parties win.

Enabling Smarter travel

Labour: Would continue encouraging the uptake by Local Authorities of smarter travel initiatives following on from the three English Sustainable Travel Towns and with assistance of an 'Urban Challenge Fund'.

Conservatives: Would turn the Department of Health into a Department for Public Health, giving the promotion of good health and prevention of illness more attention. They have also committed to providing separate public health funding to local communities.

Lib Dems: Funding would be increased for safe routes to schools and smarter choices programmes.

Improving public transport

Labour: Continued support for the option of legal contracts between local authorities and bus operators and would continue plans for further bus regulation. Would work with Competition Commission to rule out excess profits, and introduce longer notice periods for bus operators wishing to cancel a service. Additionally they have pledged to introduce "Smartcards" for better integration between bus and other forms of public transport.

Conservatives: Would scrap the option for local authorities to have legal contracts with bus operators and would instead encourage partnerships and voluntary agreements. Are also considering lengthening the notice period for de-registering services.

Lib Dems: Would give local authorities greater powers to regulate bus services according to community needs so that local people get a real say over routes and fares. They have also pledged to run a £140m "bus scrappage" scheme to modernise fleets.

Creating public spaces for all

Labour: Would give continued support for the Cycling Demonstrations Towns and City and committed funding for Cycling England. They have also committed to encouraging councils to give greater priority to walking and cycling in Local Transport Plans and more flexibility for local councils to introduce 20mph speed limits over a wider area. Additionally, they would continue with a comprehensive review of cycle safety and have also pledged to treble the number of secure cycle storage spaces at rail stations.

Conservatives: Have pledged to "give the concerns of cyclists much greater priority". They have also committed to introduce greater freedom for local initiatives and a review of guidance on highway and street design so that professionals "think cycle". They have also stated an ambition is for every adult in the country to be a member of an active neighbourhood group assisted by further provision of neighbourhood grants to the UK's poorest areas to ensure they play a leading role in the rebuilding of civic society.

Lib Dems: Would include the promotion of safer cycling and pedestrian routes in all Local Transport Plans. They have also pledged that new developments and new train and coach stations would have decent cycle parking.

Investment of transport budgets

Labour: Would introduce an 'Urban Challenge Fund' and a 'Green Infrastructure Bank', and would give continued support for workplace parking levies while not extending VAT on public transport fares. They have also stated that they have ruled out the introduction of national road pricing in the next Parliament.

Conservatives: Would introduce a Transport Carbon Reduction Fund. They have also pledged to consult on the introduction of a 'Fair Fuel Stabiliser' which would cut fuel duty when oil prices rise, and vice versa. They have also committed to reformimng the way that transport projects are appraised in England.

Lib Dems: Would introduce a UK Infrastructure Bank to expand transport infrastructure, and a Future
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Transport Fund funded by lorry road user charging to cover green transport infrastructure. The road building programme would be cancelled freeing up capital for a Rail Expansion Fund. Additionally, they have pledged to undertake preparations for the introduction of a system of road pricing in a second parliament that would abolish Vehicle Excise Duty and reduce fuel duty for people living in rural areas.

Planning for shorter distance

Labour: Would strengthen the newly established Infrastructure Planning Commission as part of commitments to reform the regulatory system.

Conservatives: Would abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and replace it with an efficient and democratically-accountable system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects. Additionally, they would introduce a new 'open source' planning system which could see people in each neighbourhood being able to specify what kind of development they want to see in their area.

Lib Dems: Would abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and return decision making, including housing targets, to local people. Additionally, they have pledged to end the post office closure programme.

Sustrans' Call to action - More Haste, Less Speed calls on all governments to invest in doubling the number of local journeys under five miles made by foot, bike and public transport to four out of five by 2020.