NE Combined Transport Activists Roundtable

The following new files are available for download (31st Aug 2010):

NECTAR Bulletin   September 2010

ONE North East is relying on voluntary networks like NECTAR to help with its consultation processes for the emerging NE Strategy. We have posted in our downloads section a stakeholder registration form from ONE North East for interested parties to register for inclusion in the ongoing (through to 2012, national politics permitting) strategy-making process.

Unexpectedly, the HoC Transport Select Committee’s report into the Major Road Network [1] calls for 900 miles of new dual carriageway as well as a new motorway building and widening programme. The total cost of the proposed work is at least £30Bn, roughly the same as building the proposed new High Speed Rail network.

NECTAR, which gave evidence at the Committee Inquiry, is very surprised at the Transport Committee’s change in approach. NECTAR had argued for making best use of the current road network with minimal new build and an integrated approach with other transport networks (rail, light rail, canal, coastal shipping etc).

It is well established that road building generates traffic increase, and traffic generates carbon emissions. Road traffic is the fastest growing source of UK carbon emissions. It is difficult to understand how members of a parliament that has recently set itself statutory carbon reduction targets in the Climate Change Act can now argue for such a big roadbuilding programme.

[1] Further information about the report “The Major Road Network” can be obtained from the Committee’s press officer, Hannah Pearce, 020 7219 8430, 07917 488162, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Executive Summary and Conclusions of the report 'Health through Transport Solutions' can now be downloaded from this site.

The study, commissioned by the Public Health North East 'Economy, Culture & Environment' Regional Advisory Group, identifies health hazards including obesity, cardiac problems and asthma - as well as road traffic accidents - arising from our increasing dependence on the car.

They identify a need to encourage and plan for active means of transport - such as cycling and walking - to offset this.

They claim that investment in better planning etc is potentially more cost effective in promoting health than investment in clinical treatment after the event.

Watch out for the health sector popping up in future transport planning decisions in the North East!

The full (3Mb) report can now be downloaded from the Strategic Health Authority website: follow the link and then click on Transport Research under Useful Documents on the right hand side of the page www.northeast.nhs.uk/your-health/regional-strategy/

The restructured Climate Change Partnership (“ClimateNE”) Steering Group is chaired by Paul Mooney, Chief Economist at ONE.

Work is progressing on supporting the Local Authority ‘Covenant of Mayors’ objective of a sustainable energy action plan (to meet 20% reduction in CO2 by 2020) with a draft in Jan ’10 to be finalised in Feb ’10.

In addition a study “Economic Implications of Climate Change” with analysis down to subregional level is underway, with a stakeholder event proposed for Jan-Feb ’10.

The North East has been designated a ‘Low Carbon Economic Area’ under the aegis of the Climate Change Partnership - with a specialism in the manufacture and maintenance of ultra low carbon vehicles.

Northern Rail is running another trial of extended opening hours for the ticket office on Morpeth Station: Mondays to Fridays 06.30 - 16.30, Saturdays 06.30 - 12.40, lasting through to Friday 23rd Oct.

SENRUG is recommending that go to the ticket office rather than book on line for the duration of the trial.

Gemma Bone, a Masters Student (International Politics: Globalization, Poverty and Development) at Newcastle is one of 25 Youth Delegates to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this (3rd-21st) December and a member of the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

They are partnering up with the Kenyan youth organisation which wants to send 15 Delegates to the Conference.

She is trying to link in with North East groups looking for mutual support (eg fundraising, networks, press, awareness raising). Contact Gemma at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NECTAR has been lobbied by Unison to support the in-house bid for the concession to operate the Tyne & Wear Metro. They claim it means the Metro will “stay in public ownership”. They ask for people to sign up to a petition to No. 10.

On the other hand NECTAR has also been lobbied by the Keep Metro Public campaign, backed by RMT which rejects all notions on operator concessions. They also have a petition.

The long awaited PHNE study “Improving Health in the North East through Transport Solutions” is now available (69pp 2.8Mb). It strongly recommends engagement of the health sector in transport planning and in particular: 

• National, Regional and Local transport strategies should consider health implications of transport 
• New developments should be planned so as to reduce car use and encourage healthy and active transport 
• All large occupancy sites (including hospitals themselves) should have Sustainable Travel Plans 
• The evaluation of transport projects should include consideration of the costs it imposes on health. 
• Traffic Engineering and Urban design should promote active and healthy transport. 20mph should be the normal speed in urban areas. 
• Health should form an active part of all relevant Local Area Partnerships 
• Social marketing campaigns should be targeted at the public and at internal stakeholders.

In line with NECTAR’s normal practice, a full Annual Report for 2008-09 has been produced in lieu of an Annual General Meeting.

The Report can be downloaded from this website.

NECTAR members are invited to attend all meetings of the Exec (see calendar) and volunteers interested in taking on some of the ‘officer functions’ are welcome.

NECTAR is developing a “position statement” on the provision and use of road priority lanes taking into account cycling and pedestrian perspectives, as well as those of bus- and taxi-users etc.

A draft paper will be published on this website, and full discussion will take place at the NECTAR Exec on 10th Oct.

NECTAR has made a submission to the Conservative policy group 'Commission for Northern Transport'.

Our full submission is available from the download section of this website. The main points we make are the economic benefits from aligning transport provision to address:

i) road safety: the cost of road accidents, deaths and casualties to the emergency services and NHS alone  are huge - not even counting the impacts on business.

ii) climate change: Lord Stern amply makes the case that spending to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build in resilience now will save a fortune in the longterm.

iii) health: promotion of 'active transport' (eg walking, cycling) could improve the health (and hence productivity) of the workforce

iv) providing non-road alternatives for car-users and for freight will reduce congestion on the road network and make journey times more reliable and consistent 

The 'North East England Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baselines Trajectories Study' highlights the fact that existing regional policies and actions will not achieve the reductions required to reach a 20% cut by 2020 (Mayors’ Convention Target) let alone the new 34% reduction by 2020 set by in the budget.

Business as usual is not an option - radical policy changes are needed, and are needed very soon. 

Copies of the study are available from Jennifer Robson at ANEC

Living Streets Northumbria has produced a study of “Pavement Parking and the Law”.

Much of the problem is not being dealt with by the police and local councils. Illegal on-pavement parking is being allowed to occur. The Law needs to be simplified and made more effective in dealing with cars parked on the pavement. Problem areas need to be highlighted and publicised in order to change driver behaviour and to encourage police and local councils to take a stronger line against pavement parking.

Karl McCracken writes about problems about cycle routes around Gateshead College:

“The routes around the college could reasonably be classed as “commuter routes”, where the design speed should be 12-20mph. On the steep hill coming down in front of the college, pretty much any cyclist could find themselves riding at the upper end of that speed range. But, instead of being part of the traffic (which also has a 20mph speed limit here), bikes are allocated the narrow, one-metre wide cycle track.”

See the video.

• increased cycling levels between 70 - 117% in the summer months and 30 -40% in the winter
• reduced car trips by between 3 - 9%. For trips to school car trips across the whole school population have reduced by around 5% and cycling increased by between four to six times the figure in 2004. 

National Travel survey data shows that over the period 2002-2006 for similar-sized towns, car trips increased by 3% and walking declined by approximately the same amount.

If carbon emissions drop at a constant geometric rate from now on, then a 47% reduction is needed by 2025 to be on the way to an 80% reduction by 2050.

Average rail fares on Northern Rail work out at around 13p per mile while standard ‘walk-up’ fares national average 17-18p per mile.

Rail fare increases in the New Year are expected to average 6% regulated and 7% unregulated. Northern Rail increases are expected to be 6% & 7% while the highest is CrossCountry at 11% unregulated.