Accessibility Planning, Training & Advisory ProgrammeMaking the connections—making it happen
Putting Accessibility Planning withinreach!
Derek Palmer Programme Manager
Scottish Accessibility Briefing 13 April 2005
What is accessibility?
Accessibility means whether someone is able to reach the key services they need, either by travelling to these services or by the services being available where they are.
What is accessibility planning?
“Accessibility planning focuses on promoting social inclusion by tackling the accessibility problems faced by those in disadvantaged groups and areas.” “It sets a framework for local transport authorities to work with their partners to tackle poor accessibility.”“It is particularly focussed on access to those opportunities that are likely to have the most impact on life chances: employment, education, health care and food shops.”''It is not just about transport - the location of services and the way they are delivered has as significant an influence on accessibility as transport provisions.”Accessibility Planning guidance
Why is accessibility planning important?
The Prime Minister, in his foreword to Making the Connections (SEU, 2003), said that accessibility planning…
‘..offers a new way to find and solve local problems, checking whether people experiencing social exclusion can reach the services they need, and identifying action to take if they can’t. Action could be through improving public transport, introducing more innovative travel options, or changing the location or delivery of the services people need.’
Key barriers to accessibility
• Availability and physical accessibility of transport
• Cost of transport• Services and activities located in inaccessible
places• Safety and security• Lack of information and limited travel horizons
Access to local facilities
Access without a car
Public transport security
Transport costs
Sectors affected by accessibility
• Health• Education• Employment• Fresh food shopping• Leisure
Accessibility planning: what does it involve?Five stages:
1. Strategic accessibility assessment — identifying accessibility problems systematically and objectively
2. Local accessibility assessment — guide development and delivery of measures
3. Option appraisal and identification of resources — identifying local problems and appropriate solutions
4. Action plan preparation — refining potential actions
5. Performance monitoring — establishing indicators and targets
Not just about transport: location and delivery of services important
Stages of accessibility planning
Deadlines
• July 2005: LTP submission• July 2005: Framework Accessibility Strategy to be
submitted as part of LTP
• March 2006: Full LTP submission• March 2006: Full Accessibility Strategy to be
submitted as part of Full LTP
Why are LTAs involved?
• DfT has overall responsibility for the SEU report's implementation, monitoring progress, evaluation, & long-term policy development, & leads a cross-departmental team of officials who are responsible for implementing their Department's policies
• DfT expects LTAs to take accessibility planning forward at the local level engaging other local authority departments & outside stakeholders as necessary
Accessibility planning aims to…
• Make it easier for people to get to work• Help to reduce health inequalities• Help to increase participation and attainment
in education & training• Provide better opportunities for those without
access to a private car• Reduce social exclusion
Aims of withinreach
“To support and advise local transport authorities (in England, outside London) in implementing accessibility planning; and to develop and maintain a framework to facilitate development of, and dissemination of good practice on accessibility planning.”
The withinreach Programme
1. withinreach programme office2. DfT/ CLWGAP meetings3. LTA surveys4. Engagement with LTAs5. Engagement with OGDs, LG bodies and other
stakeholders6. Learning toolkit 7. Research8. Site Specific Advice (SSA)9. Action Learning Programme (ALP)
Assistance for LTAs
• withinreach Programme Office (advice & information)– Tel: 020-7910-5800– Email: [email protected]
• Website– www.within-reach.org.uk
• Learning toolkit• Workshops and seminars• Feedback• Site Specific Advice or Action Learning Programme
withinreach: what it does and does not do
withinreach does not:
Prepare accessibility strategies
Prepare Local Transport Plans
Support Accession
Undertake modelling
Provide free SSA or ALP
withinreach does:
Provide information
Provide advice
Develop the toolkit
Develop learning materials
Maintain website
Promote engagement
Assist LTAs
Liaise with OGDs etc
Guide research
How we see accessibility planning
• Accessibility Planning is a major contributor to modernising services, a tool to that end
• LTAs and transport planners are the means to that end
• Accessibility Planning provides evidence for LTPs• Accessibility Planning identifies key needs for
transport & access in the context of community strategy development, local development frameworks & local transport planning
• It must be inclusive - partners & stakeholders are important to its successful delivery
• Partnership is the means to effective delivery
What is a partnership?
“Partnership is the temporary suppression of mutual loathing in the pursuit of hard cash”
Local Transport Today 4 Nov 2004
A Partnership is…
….a joint venture involving collaboration between different partners for mutual benefit.
Research results to date
• Variety of experience & understanding of process• Considered as ‘new’ rather than ‘re-branding’• Reliance on DfT guidance• Concerns over data quality & availability• Concerns over modelling• Partnerships being developed, some in place• Concerns over ability to maintain Partnerships• Lack of resource offers from Partners• Links to/from LTP uncertain• Poor project management to develop LTP/ASBUT• Some LTAs making rapid progress
withinreach – where next?
• Next steps:– Toolkit publication – Roll-out of ALP & SSA – Further surveys – Regional Engagement Pilot – Continual development of website– Regional workshops
• Longer term:– withinreach continues until Dec 2006– Will recommend to DfT on future of programme
Lessons for Scotland
• Accessibility Planning is the way forward for local transport planning
• Provide clear guidance for practitioners• Accessibility Planning is more than modelling • Emphasise the importance of Partnerships• Train professionals well in advance• Do not expect too much too soon
Thank youAccessibility Planning, Training & Advisory Programme
