[rts] UK white paper

[Dr S D Ellis]

Dear all,

My name is Simon Ellis and I am one of the authors of the RTS paper.

The purpose for my submission to this discussion network is to draw your 
attention to the publication of the UK white paper on "Our Countryside: The 
Future - A fair deal for rural England". One Chapter of this document is on 
flexible local transport and has some interesting ideas, some of which I 
believe are relevant to the paper which we are currently discussing. To some 
extent it also provides some potential answers to some of the comments we have 
received.

The full paper can be found on the UK's Department of the Environment, 
Transport and the Regions website at 
www.wildlife-countryside.detr.gov.uk/ruralwp. Of particular relevance to this 
discussion is Chapter 6 (flexible local transport) and Chapter 7 (Market towns 
and a thriving local economy). Some ideas which I think are worth considering 
include:

1) A new Parish (community level) fund to support small scale transport 
projects identified by the Parish. Amoung the proposed uses for this fund 
there is a) support for community transport services, including refurbishment 
and maintenance of existing community vehicles, b) vouchers for taxis for the 
elderly or other people needing transport, c) funding for local bus companies 
to divert a service through a village.

2) Rural Bus Challenge scheme is aimed at supporting innovative bus and 
mini-bus projects accross the country.

3) Community transport and voluntary services (i.e. run on a not-for-profit 
basis) in catering for needs which cannot be met by private sector. They want 
to see greater integration with commercial services. Community services will 
benefit from a "light touch" regulatory regime. (case study provided).

4) Better transport planning and information.

5) Encouraging cycling and walking through, for example, improved 
infrastructure.

6)  Chapter 7 - the importance of market towns in rural economies. I think 
this has some similarities to the cases of Bangladesh and India as referred to 
by John Howe.    

It is clear from all the comments coming through that there is still much work 
to do!!!

Regards


Simon Ellis
TRL
Tel: 01344 770552
Fax: 01344 770356
e-mail: sdellis at trl.co.uk
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