Accessibility planning: understanding the needs of the transport poor.

A questionnaire to Local Authorities in England, was used to evaluate a number of hypotheses exploring potential barriers to accessibility planning. Data was collected on: tasks progressed by the authorities, the perceptions of accessibility planning and the advantages, difficulties and potential policy conflicts experienced. Responses were received from a total of 103 local authorities. The results provided evidence that practitioners placed great value on having a quantitative appraisal framework. The survey also indicated that two barriers stood out in terms of their importance. Many of the respondents were concerned that external organisations had been given too few incentives and obligations. Over 60 per cent of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the ability to engage and sustain meaningful partnerships with organisations such as schools and the National Health Service (NHS) was or will be a problem. Almost as many, 56 per cent of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that the walking component of the core indicators was reliable for the purposes of accessibility planning. 10 per cent of the respondents said that unrealistic expectations were the main disadvantage of accessibility planning. These respondents indicated that there would be little or no real change in the accessibility levels experienced by targeted groups in their respective authority. Whilst, the survey did not fully explain the reasons behind this, perhaps the most reasonable explanation is that these respondents doubt that they can accurately identify and prioritise the problems experienced by the accessibility poor. Or, that they felt there was a lack of policy measures, funding opportunities and transport projects 'in the pipeline' that could provide a significant positive change for those worst off, especially when considering current transport and land use trends. The survey was carried out during spring 2005. When interpreting the results it should be borne in mind that the survey was carried out during an early stage of implementing the new policy initiative (A). For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E212343.