East Lindsey Local Plan 2001 - 2021

CHAPTER 2: TRANSPORT

The Local Plan’s objectives with regard to transport are:

• to encourage greater use of public transport, cycling and walking and to reduce the need for car journeys;
• to make conditions safer for cycling and walking;
• to cater effectively for the transport needs of disadvantaged people including those without cars;
• to provide a wide range of safe travel choices;
• to promote efficiency in the transport needs of local services and businesses.

TRANSPORT

• Policy TR1 – The Location of Development
• Policy TR2 – Pedestrian Access
• Policy TR3 – Cycling
• Policy TR4 – Movement Corridors
• Policy TR5 – Transport Interchanges
• Buses
• Air Travel

2.1 There has been an increasing emphasis, through planning policy guidance, on reducing the need to travel and providing greater transport choice through the planning system. PPG13 (Transport) advocates that Local Authorities should integrate transport and land-use planning; this is a key element of sustainable development. PPG13 sets the following objectives:

• to promote more sustainable transport choices for both people and moving freight;
• to promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling; and
• to reduce the need to travel, especially by car.

2.2 PPG6 (Town Centres and Retail Development) also emphasises the sequential approach to development in selecting sites for retail, employment and other key town centre uses, and the revised PPG3 (Housing) makes it clear that housing development should be located so as to reduce car dependence and facilitate access by other modes of transport. The dispersed nature of settlements in East Lindsey makes this is a greater challenge. There are key issues of social exclusion related to people’s inability to access services. It may limit people’s choice of education or employment opportunities if they do not have access to a car, as public transport may not operate at times that enable them to access them. It can also exacerbate rural poverty as people need to run at least one car to be able to access the range of household activities, such as education, shopping and employment. However, these are all issues that need to be tackled within the framework of sustainability.

2.3 Lincolnshire County Council is the highways authority for East Lindsey and has responsibility for all roads in the District and is also responsible for co-ordinating public transport. However, the Local Plan can play a part in influencing movement by the form and location of new development. The Local Transport Plan (LTP), produced by Lincolnshire County Council, provides a 5 year integrated transport strategy for the County and the Local Plan will work to help active the objectives of the LTP, through the Local Plan and through its development control function. The council is also working in partnership with other organisations to influence the provision of public and community transport, through its Transport Development Officer.

Policy TR1 - The Location of Development

2.5 One of the key ways in which the planning system can assist the objectives in paragraph 2.4 is in the location of development. Development that is likely to generate a lot of visits needs to be sited in an area that is, or can be, readily accessible by a range of means of transport. The larger settlements in the district will not only have a greater number of people on the doorstep who can walk or cycle to the development, but are more likely to be accessible by public transport. The settlement hierarchy, set out in Policy CP3, sets out the hierarchy that will be used for the sequential approach to the location of development

2.6 In considering proposals for development, the Council will consider the particular needs of the development, the communities it serves and the accessibility by public transport. Even within settlements, the location chosen for development will need to demonstrate how it has taken into account the needs of its users. For example, facilities that exist to provide direct services to the public, e.g. doctors’ surgeries and education facilities, should, wherever possible, be well related to public transport facilities and be located in the heart of the communities they serve.

Policy TR2 - Pedestrian Access

2.7 Walking is a cheap, environmentally friendly means of getting about over short distances. It not only good from an environmental perspective, but can add vitality to town centres and natural surveillance in residential areas. However, people need to view walking as an attractive option. There are many factors, perceived or real, that deter people from making more trips on foot. Fears over security and vehicle/pedestrian conflict are high in many people’s minds, and this is one reason why the school run has become a feature of modern life. Others include visually unattractive routes, those that skirt development and do not take the quickest or most convenient route and routes that do not connect well with each other or public transport facilities.

2.8 Proposals for new development need to show how the needs of pedestrians have been taken into account. They should not impede existing routes; or if they do, they should be replaced with ones that are no less convenient or attractive options to pedestrians. Proposals should show how they connect with existing pedestrian networks in the area, public transport facilities or other key community facilities. For example, with new housing development, convenient pedestrian links should be shown within the development that make it easy for pedestrians to get to schools, shops or other facilities nearby.

Policy - TR3 Cycling

2.9 Cycling has all of the advantages of walking and can be more practical over longer journeys. However, many of the reasons why people are deterred from walking apply to cycling. The Council will work with its partners to promote the use of cycling, both for practical journeys and recreation. New development needs to show how it has addressed the needs of cycling both in terms of safe and accessible cycle routes and in providing secure, safe and conveniently located cycle parking facilities.

2.10 Public transport interchanges, and rail and bus stations also need to consider the needs of cyclists. The relatively short journeys which are often required to access public transport can be undertaken by cycle but people may be deterred if there are no convenient routes or nowhere safe and secure to leave the cycle. New development at these facilities should show how this has been addressed.

 Policy - TR4 Movement Corridors

 Policy - TR5 Transport Interchanges

2.12 Rail is generally a more environmentally sound form of transport than road and the Council will strongly oppose any cuts in rail services which would increase road traffic through the District, especially that heading to the coastal resorts. It will lobby for a more reliable service, which can meet the demands of the summer tourist season, and local travel needs. The only rail service in the District is from Boston to Skegness with smaller stations at Thorpe Culvert, Wainfleet and Havenhouse. Other settlements along the line could benefit from stopping facilities and the Council would act to support any such proposal. The only proposal that has been proposed at present is at Sibsey. A site has been identified on the inset map, and development in or around this land should not be permitted where it would prejudice these plans. Development in and around railway stations can also have an impact on people’s willingness to use services, and the Council will oppose any proposals that adversely affect the railway stations in the District. The Council will seek to maintain and improve public transport interchanges and facilities wherever possible.

Buses

2.14 Within East Lindsey, buses are very important in providing the only means of communication, other than the car, from the larger villages to towns, and within towns. However, because of the dispersed settlement patterns and difficulties of providing these services, they are often vulnerable. The Council is keen to see the level of services maintained and improved to support the settlement hierarchy set out in the Plan. The InterConnect strategy has improved the quality and usage of bus services in parts of the district. The Council recognises this and will continue to support the County Council in maintaining and extending this service.

Air Travel

2.16 The District does not have its own airport facilities but Humberside Airport is located nearby, to the north. The range of flights the airport offers continues to expand and this provides a convenient local facility for national and international commercial air traffic, as well as private aircraft. The District Council supports the continuation and development of Humberside Airport.