6.4 Links to Quality of Life

Transport plays a large role in the Quality of Life of people in Lancashire, most notably the issues of;

• quality of public spaces and landscapes
• conservation of biodiversity
• community safety
• public health
• noise
• climate change
• air quality, and
• accessibility.

The above issues will strongly affect how and by what means the LTP2 is implemented. We want to improve the quality of life for all people working, living, learning and visiting in Lancashire, and our transport strategy will help to do this.

Objectives that will contribute to the achievement of the overall aim for quality of life are contained within the strategies for the shared priorities for transport elsewhere in this document and within wider corporate strategies. There are thus no specific LTP objectives for improving the quality of life. However the next section considers how the LTP links to Quality of Life indicators and how we will improve the following issues.

6.4.1 Noise

Noise can have a major impact on quality of life and can affect health. Lancashire’s residents consider traffic noise to be an important area to address as it can be the cause of stress, while prolonged exposure to high noise levels can result in permanent hearing loss. Transport noise is known to be of concern to many residents. Mitigating the impact of noise for people who live close to transport corridors and interchanges is always an important consideration and will contribute towards the achievement of our objective to protect and enhance the built and natural environment.

The planning of routes for major transport projects takes into consideration the impact of noise from traffic and, where necessary, any mitigating measures such as noise bunds and/or barriers that can be provided. Noise attenuation measures are also important during highway scheme construction and maintenance.

Lancashire follows the European Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) which is aimed at controlling noise. It lays down a common approach for avoiding, preventing or reducing the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise based on using noise maps to provide information to the public and for implementing action plans.  We will create Strategic Noise Maps to assess noise exposure in various areas due to different noise sources and make overall predictions for such areas.

6.4.2 Landscape and Biodiversity

Transport schemes can have major impacts on the landscape through either the effects on the landscape character or the loss of landscape features, such as ponds and hedgerows. The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan states that development must relate sensitively to the local environment and contribute to the sense of place, identity and diversity of the distinct landscape area. This can be achieved through planting tree belts, hedgerows and creating ponds or other features that are in keeping.

As well as providing habitat, roadside verges form important wildlife corridors and have landscape and amenity value. Some show the characteristic flora of calcareous grassland. Lowland calcareous grassland is a priority habitat nationally and has a national Habitat Action Plan. Certain roadside verges have been awarded protection under the Lancashire Structure Plan.

About half the Protected Roadside Verges are also County Wildlife Sites, which are afforded a higher level of protection. Opportunities exist within new transport schemes for creating new road verges which, with the careful selection of appropriate species, could become valuable for wildlife as well as extending and enhancing existing protected road verges.

All major transport infrastructure proposals are subjected to an environmental appraisal to assess the potential impacts they may have on the landscape and biodiversity, and to balance these impacts against the benefits of the scheme.

6.4.3 Improved Public Spaces and Streetscape

The amenity, design and use of street spaces can make local environments more pleasant and contribute to the economic prosperity of an area. It will also help to meet our LTP2 objective to improve transport infrastructure. Our LT2P addresses this issue and includes the following;

• Several schemes in East Lancashire which link areas being improved under the ELEVATE Housing Renewal Programme to Quality Bus Corridors.
• Policies and measures to reduce air pollution, such as the proposed Clear zone and Traffic Management improvements in Preston which will improve air quality in the area. This will not only enhance the environment of the area, but will also benefit people's health and help to encourage sustainable modes of transport.
• Highway land makes up a major proportion of public space. Well maintained carriageways and footways will improve the quality of public spaces and will also help to promote walking and cycling, improve safety and enhance accessibility.
• In addition, high quality public transport infrastructure (i.e. bus stops and shelters) is also important in improving perceptions of the ease, security and comfort of travelling by public transport. The programme of improvements to bus stops in Lancashire will include raised kerbs and standardised information, while new bus shelters are being implemented in the market towns of East Lancashire. Combined, these measures will improve the quality of the infrastructure and increase bus use.

6.4.4 Sustainable Communities

In the Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan, transport has an important role to play in helping to create vibrant and prosperous communities. Measures contained within this LTP2 can help to achieve this. For example, the engineering, enforcement and education measures contained within the road safety programme will help to reduce the number of accidents and casualties in Lancashire, while measures to reduce congestion will help to improve the street environment, air quality and public health.

The Lancashire Travel Wise campaign to encourage cycling, walking and public transport will help to support the delivery of sustainable communities by encouraging existing and new residents to travel by these modes. The prosperity of Lancashire is dependent on the provision of new jobs, homes and infrastructure, which will provide the foundations for the well being of the area.

Using the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan as a blueprint for the creation of sustainable communities, it brings together local councils and development agencies to ensure a coherent response to the diverse challenges this presents. The County Council is working closely with its local, regional and national partners to jointly identify measures that will help to facilitate sustainable and prosperous communities.

One of the aims of the County Council is to secure additional funds in order to provide the infrastructure required to cope with the additional travel demand generated by the development planned for the County. The measures set out in the LTP2 will help to deliver sustainable communities and maintain the prosperity of the County. This is ensured by the County Council, District Councils and neighbouring Unitary Councils all working in partnership to deliver a joint developer contributions methodology which links developer contributions directly to LTP2 schemes. It is our aim to ensure that local development dovetails measures within the LTP2 and further reinforces our desire for success.

6.4.5 Community Safety, Personal Security and Crime

Crime and the fear of crime on the transport system can have a major effect on people’s willingness to travel and their ability to access the jobs and key services that they need. Personal security is central to enabling people to feel safe when walking, cycling and using public transport and is a key requirement if we are to achieve our LTP2 objectives. Reduced levels of crime and improved personal security will also help to promote public transport, walking, cycling and other forms of sustainable transport.

To address this, Community Safety Partnerships (Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships) have been set up across Lancashire, in each district. Each partnership is comprised of the following organisations;

• Lancashire Constabulary
• District Council
• Lancashire County Council
• Primary Care Trust
• Fire service
• Youth service
• Other private and voluntary agencies

Working together these organisations we have carried out audits to identify crime and disorder and misuse of drugs problems in their area and develop strategies that deal effectively with them. Partner organisations are required to work in co-operation with local education and probation authorities and invite co-operation of a range of local private, voluntary, other public and community groups including the community itself. In addition, measures contained within our road safety programme, such as improved street lighting and pedestrian crossings will help to reduce crime and the fear of crime on the transport system, contributing to making travel safer.

6.4.6 Healthy Communities

Transport can also have an effect on people’s health. There are several elements of this LTP2 which can have a significant impact on the health of a community:

• Improving access to healthcare services, sport facilities and supermarkets through our accessibility strategy.
• Increasing the amount of trips that are undertaken by sustainable modes -  bike or foot through our pedestrian strategy, cycling strategy, Safer Routes to School Programme and Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
• Encouraging a shift from the private car in order to improve air quality, as poor air quality is known to contribute to respiratory diseases and heart conditions.

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