Durham City
Transport Policy
In 1996, Sir Colin Buchanan and Partners were commissioned by the County Council to undertake a comprehensive travel study. Following extensive public consultation, a suggested strategy was produced which forms the basis for this package. As identified by the Buchanan report the key objective of any transport policy and hence this package should be:"To reconcile the conflicts between transport and the environment within Durham City through the provision of an efficient transport system which meets future economic and social needs in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner."
Two specific issues need to be taken into account when formulating a strategy for the city centre. The first is the attractiveness of the city given its key role in helping to achieve the regeneration of the wider area. Many areas surrounding Durham City have suffered badly from a long term decline in traditional industries, particularly coal mining. The city's importance as a centre for employment is emphasised by the fact that 80% of the people living in the district work in the city whilst only 20% reside within one kilometre of the city centre.
The second is the historic and cultural significance of Durham City as recognised by the designation of the cathedral and castle as a World Heritage Site. To ensure the continued conservation of the historic environment it is essential that future issues of accessibility and the environmental impact of transport are dealt with through an integrated land use and transport strategy.
There are pressures to seek a range of solutions to Durham's traffic problems whilst protecting the historic centre of the city. The key elements of the proposed strategy are:
- Provision for disabled people, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Provision of alternatives to the car.
- The use of parking control to manage the demand for car travel.
- Fostering attitudinal change to car use.
- Reducing the impact of vehicular traffic on the environment.
- Improving conditions for disabled people in the city centre.
- Restricting unnecessary vehicle movements in Saddler Street.
- Completing pedestrian and public transport improvements in North Road and New Elvet / Church Street.
- Introducing commuter and travel awareness plans.
- Improvement of cycling and walking links to the city centre.
- Completion of the Controlled Parking Zone with the preparation of a Special Parking Area application.
- Introduction of on-street parking charges and residents parking in selected areas.
- Introduction of further bus priority schemes.
- Expanding the Safe Routes to Schools project.
- Introduction of additional quality route partnerships on the low floor bus routes.
- Advance works for park and ride scheme.
- Improve accessibility: to ensure that all sectors of the population have adequate access to employment opportunities and social facilities, particularly for problems of disadvantaged groups, including the unemployed, elderly, young people and people with disabilities.
- Reduce demand for travel by private car: to ensure that safe, effective and competitive alternatives to the car are available and reduce the reliance on the private car for journeys to/from and within the package area.
- Maintain the historic character: to provide access for visitors but protect the City’s historic character from adverse traffic impacts.
- Local Amenity: to minimise the impact of transport on the amenity of local residents.
- Improve Safety: to improve overall safety by specific measures and the encouragement of safe travel modes.
- Sustainability: to provide levels of mobility and accessibility compatible with sustaining the quality of life and quality of the environment in future years in accordance with Local Agenda 21.
- Freight Transport: to maintain an efficient transport system but reduce the impact of goods vehicles.
