ASSEMBLY PUSHES SMARTER TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR

An action plan from the South East England Regional Assembly aims to help cut car use in the region by improving other forms of transport.

The Assembly's South East Plan, a 20-year planning framework, is aiming to make better use of public transport and reduce car journeys. Taking this forward, the Assembly commissioned a study and workshops in Oxford, Portsmouth and Guildford on how to change travel behaviour.

The resulting action plan will see the Assembly take a lead role supporting local authorities to help deliver smarter travel behaviour:

• Preparing guidance to help local authorities achieve the South East Plan aims of integrated transport that encourages less car use
• Developing a framework for rail station travel plans making it easy to access stations eg bus connections and links to park and ride sites
• Coordinating travel information and ticketing eg a single card for the train, bus and parking
• Creating a resource centre as a central point for good practice, research and contacts, and monitoring role.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said:

"Travelling more wisely is what the future is about. Changing our behaviour is challenging so we need better access to better public transport encouraging communities to be more sustainable. We are already talking with key stakeholders including the region's local transport authorities to help deliver the action plan."

The study and action plan will also be considered by the South East England Regional Transport Board on Friday 26 October at its meeting.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Transport Board's meeting paper on changing travel behaviour and mobility management is available in the meetings section.
2. Please contact the Assembly for a report of the research.
3. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
4. The Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
5. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 30 October 2007