Health and well being is greatly affected by the environment in which people live, and the transport network has a profound effect on the environment and the health of both individuals and communities. A systematic approach that enables a health input at the planning stage of a transport policy is undoubtedly helpful, and this report considers the use of Health Impact Assessment. This study aims to identify the health impacts, both positive and negative, of the City of Edinburgh Council’s (CEC) Urban Transport Strategy. CEC are developing a transportation strategy based on three possible scenarios which are dependent on the levels of funding that may be available: Scenario 1 is based on funding at the level of £0.7 million per year. This is the amount of money that an ‘average’ council of 450,000 population would spend on developing new transportation infrastructure each year. Scenario 2 requires £6.5 million, which is the maximum level of funding that it is envisaged the CEC could designate from its own funds. Scenario 3 would need £29 million per year and would require road tolling. The study gathered information using a literature review, analysis of local data and the knowledge and opinions of the ‘key informants’ participating in the HIA – the transport HIA group. This group made best estimates as to how the three scenarios would impact locally, and what parts of the population would be likely to bear the impacts. Two main population groups, which were stereotypes for the Edinburgh population, were described. 1) middle class / affluent / predominantly car owning, and 2) disadvantaged / predominantly non car owning. Within these groups the following subgroups were identified: young families; adolescents; the elderly; working people; and the unemployed. Grids were constructed and used to record the health impacts identified by the group. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting